ABSTRACT
Several novel classes of composite materials have been developed in the twenty-first century; the 3D braided composite is one of them. It has several distinct advantages over laminated composite materials. Some fibers are oriented in the thickness direction in the 3D braided composite, which generally improves strength in the thickness direction as well as works against the delamination tendency. The noteworthy uses of 3D braided composites are observed in numerous industries and engineering fields. To manufacture the 3D braided composite, the standard four-step stable braiding procedure is used. The equivalent mechanical properties of the 3D braided composite are predicted based on the average volume technique using bridging methods. In this method, fiber bundles are assumed as transversely isotropic, and the matrix is deemed as isotropic material. The bridging model is more accurate for predicting transverse elastic modulus and shear modulus compared to the other methods. A 3D third-order shear deformation theory (TSDT) incorporating an eight-noded efficient C0 continuous isoparametric finite element has been implemented to model the geometry of 3D braided composite shells. Based on the 3D TSDT, the shear correction factor is not required in this theory. The time-dependent contact forces of the shell are calculated based on nonlinear modified Hertzian contact law using Newmark's beta time integration algorithm. To judge the accuracy and correctness of the present numerical models, various comparison studies are observed. In this study, time histories contact force, central deflection, impactor displacement, and impactor velocity are observed by varying fiber volume fractions, braided angles, boundary conditions, impactor radius, impactor velocity, thickness ratios, etc.
