An Evaluation of the *FABRIC Material Model in ABAQUS/EXPLICIT for Composite Preforming Analysis Suitability

Carbon fiber composites are becoming important in addressing global design challenges. To support the use of carbon fiber composites, modeling of the fabric preforming is an important tool. In this work, the existing *FABRIC material model in ABAQUS®/EXPLICIT was evaluated for composite preforming analysis suitability. Specifically, picture frame and bias-extension fabric in-plane shear characterization tests and deep-drawing preforming tests using a hemisphere and an in-house square clamping tool were simulated using this material model. This *FABRIC material model employs shell or membrane elements to capture the wrinkling of fabric in a smeared fashion and track the shear angle change during analysis. Reasonably good prediction-experiment correlations of shear angle changes and loading curves were achieved for both of the material in-plane shear characterization tests; i.e., picture frame and bias-extension tests. However, the accuracy in the predicted loaddisplacement curves for the hemisphere deep-drawing preforming tests was found to vary with the fiber orientation relative to the clamping tool. Hypotheses attributing to the deviation are discussed. All the material inputs can be determined in advance from well-established physical tests. Despite its modeling efficiency advantage, this material model was only valid for materials that exhibit two “structural” directions.