Assessing compressive mechanical behavior of woven fabric green textile composite using finite element method

The research aims to forecast the mechanical performance of a hybrid woven fabric natural composite subjected to compression, utilizing the three-dimensional finite element method. A detailed finite element model of a plain woven fabric unit cell is created and analyzed for different materials like flax, basalt, and jute, and combinations of these materials (inter-yarn hybrid basalt-flax, jute-flax and basalt-jute fabrics). It is observed that fabric's response to compression is mainly influenced by the transverse longitudinal shear behaviour and the stiffness of the yarn cross-section. Compression of single-layer woven fabric involves yarn bending and compaction, resulting in varying fiber volume fractions in different areas due to compaction. The basalt-jute hybrid plain woven fabric outperformed other plant-based fiber fabrics with a polypropylene matrix in terms of mechanical performance under compression. Increase in yarn spacing and fabric thickness resulted in higher strain energy and displacement, attributed to changes in fiber volume fraction and crimp angle. Whereas, increasing yarn width led to a stiffer fabric due to increased contact area at the crossover region and higher bending rigidity, resulting in decreased strain energy and displacement. Importantly, this developed model can effectively simulate textile fabrics with diverse weaving patterns, material properties, and loading conditions. Numerical analysis using the finite element method, assessed the mechanical behavior of woven fabric hybrid natural composites when subjected to compression. Six reinforcement combinations were compared for displacement, contact pressure, and strain energy. The study explored how geometric factors (yarn spacing, width, and fabric thickness) affect the composite's mechanical properties. image