Elastic Constants Prediction of 3D Fiber-Reinforced Composites Using Multiscale Homogenization

This paper presents a multi-scale-homogenization based on a two-step methodology (micro-meso and meso-macro homogenization) to predict the elastic constants of 3D fiber-reinforced composites (FRC). At each level, the elastic constants were predicted through both analytical and numerical methods to ascertain the accuracy of predicted elastic constants. The predicted elastic constants were compared with experimental data. Both methods predicted the in-plane elastic constants “ $E_x$ ” and “ $E_y$ ” with good accuracy; however, the analytical method under predicts the shear modulus “ $G_{xy}$ ”. The elastic constants predicted through a multiscale homogenization approach can be used to predict the behavior of 3D-FRC under different loading conditions at the macro-level.