Predicting the longitudinal elastic modulus of braided tubular composites using a curved unit-cell geometry

Predicting the elastic constants of braided composites has gained increasing importance over the years. This is mostly due to the broad use of the braided composites and the need to accurately predict their response during stiffness critical applications. This paper outlines an analytical study to predict longitudinal elastic modulus of two-dimensionally braided composites. The developed model analyzes a small repeating representative block, a unit cell, of the braided structure. Unlike most of the previous studies in the field, the model recognizes the effects of curvature of the unit cell on tubular braided composites as a function of braided tube diameter. This paper outlines the development of the proposed analytical model, as well as validation of the model for stiffness critical applications by comparison of the results with available literature data and experimental findings.