Multiscale simulation on nonlinear mechanical properties of cellulose composites with different fiber morphologies

Abstract

The effect of fiber morphology on mechanical properties of thermoplastic composites reinforced by cellulose microfibers was investigated by multiscale numerical analysis. The homogenization theory was employed for scale coupling, and representative volume element (RVE) models with random fiber orientation was generated based on the random sequential adsorption (RSA) algorithm. The effects of fiber aspect ratio and aggregation on nonlinear mechanical properties were investigated. The elastic properties and maximum tensile stress were found to vary by 26.8% and 39.6%, depending on the fiber aspect ratio, and by 5.95% and 4.20%, depending on fiber aggregation.