Meso-Scale Finite Element Model for Rib-Stiffened Composites with Biaxial Weft-Knitted Reinforcements

Shell-rib structures made of textile-reinforced composites are used in a wide range applications to increase bending, buckling and torsional stiffness. Such usually manufactured differential construction at the preform level by assembling several textile or component subsequent joining separately shells stiffening structures. Integral production is one way overcome disadvantages forenamed methods, such as high manual effort, failure during fiber distortion. Weft-knitting technology excellent for achieving integral preforms shell-rib components with strong connection between shell rib, especially while producing biaxial weft-knitted fabrics (BWKF) reinforcing yarns warp weft direction improve its mechanical behavior. In this work, possibilities knitting technique investigated, finite element model comparing different variants developed validated. A meso-scale Finite-Element-Method (FEM) BWKF used. The simulation results show good correlation experimental data description bending strength stiffness FRP configuration variations. can be further investigation fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) from BWKF.