Abstract
Based on the asymptotic homogenization theory, the multiscale finite element method (FEM) was employed in this study to investigate the mechanical properties of movable crosslinked polymer-based cellulose composites. Additionally, a design method was proposed to predict the mechanical properties under different cellulose morphologies. The study of mechanical properties primarily focused on fiber morphologies and matrix types, including factors such as fiber content, fiber aspect ratio, and different matrices. The results indicated that the elastic modulus of the composites increases with the rise in fiber content and fiber aspect ratio. Among the various matrices, the matrix with the addition of movable cross-links exhibited the highest elastic modulus. To quantify the influence of each factor on the performance, the fiber contribution rate based on strain energy was introduced. Subsequently, a predictive program, based on the linear approximation of the composite mechanical properties, fiber contribution proportion, and matrix elastic modulus, was designed and proposed. Upon validation, within a maximum error range of 10%, this design method demonstrated the ability to predict the elastic modulus of composite materials with different fiber contents and fiber aspect ratios.
