Modeling the effects of reinforcement distribution on the mechanical properties of composite materials

Three methods that account for the effects of reinforcement distribution on the mechanical properties of two-dimensional two phase composite materials are developed. The first method uses complex unit cells from periodic structures which are statistically similar to the real composite microstructures to simulate the composites. The second models the composites as materials with continuously varying mechanical properties which are associated with local volume fraction of reinforcement. The third one is based on finding the weakest fracture path among all possible fracture paths throughout the composites. Tensile experiments on perforated aluminum sheets are performed. The predicted mechanical behaviors from the three methods are compared to the experimental results and compared to each other. The advantages and limitations of the three methods are discussed.