Effective properties of textile composites: application of the Mori–Tanaka method

An efficient approach to the evaluation of effective elastic properties of plain weave textile composites using the Mori-Tanaka method is presented. The method proves its potential even if applied to real material systems with various types of imperfections including the non-uniform waviness of the fiber-tow paths, both along its longitudinal direction and through the laminate thickness. The influence of the remaining geometrical parameters is accounted for by optimal calibration of the shape of the equivalent ellipsoidal inclusion. An application of the method to a particular sample of the carbon-carbon composite laminate demonstrates not only its applicability but also its efficiency particularly when compared with finite element simulations.