Simulations of textile composite reinforcement draping using a new semi-discrete three node finite element

Continuous and discrete approaches for forming simulations of textile performs both involve difficulties and drawbacks. The semidiscrete method is an alternative based on a meso-macro approach. It is based on specific finite elements made of a discrete number of the components of the textile at lower scale. Their strain energy in the interpolated displacement field leads to the nodal interior loads of the element. In this paper a new three node element is proposed. It is made up of warp and weft fibres, the tensile and in plane shear energy of which are considered. The directions of the warp and weft yarns are arbitrary with regard to the element sides. That is very important in case of simultaneous multiply draping simulations and when using remeshing. The determination of the material data necessary to the simulation from standard tensile and bias tests is straightforward. A set of elementary tests and mono and multi-ply draping shows the efficiency of the approach. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.