A damage model for 3D braided composites with transverse cracking

A simplified model of three-dimensional (3D) braided composites with the transverse cracking is presented. By using the principle of minimum complementary energy, the stress components are obtained in closed-form expressions in terms of a perturbation function, which is governed by two fourth-order inhomogeneous ordinary differential equations. All possible expressions of this perturbation function are obtained in closed forms. The effective Young's modulus and Poisson ratio of 3D damaged braided composites are calculated using the determined minimum complementary energy. To demonstrate the solution, some examples are analyzed. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.