Modelling the elastic properties of woven composites with transverse bundle cracks

Transverse bundle cracks are typically the first observable damage mechanism in woven composites under quasi-static and cyclic loadings. The number of cracks, or their density, increases with the load or the number of cycles causing a degradation of the laminate stiffness. In this work, two different modelling approaches are proposed to predict the in-plane apparent elastic properties of woven composites in the presence of cracks in the transverse bundles. The models account for the fabric mesostructure, including the bundle waviness. Comparisons with numerical simulations and experimental data reveals the accuracy of the proposed models, making them a useful tool in a mechanistic framework for the prediction of progressive stiffness loss in woven composites.