Tensile test and numerical simulation for satin weave composite fastener

Detailed sizes of threads in the satin weave composite fastener have reached the meso scale. It is not accurate to simulate the real failure mode if the uniform material is applied to the thread in the process of numerical simulation. For this problem, the finite element model of the fastener thread is established by stacking several layers of simplified satin weave composite meso-structure representative volume elements, which results in that the model includes essential fiber region and matrix region. Numerical simulation for the tensile test of thread model is carried out. Based on the failure criterion of each component material, prediction on the damage force of fastener is achieved. Tensile test for the satin weave carbon/carbon composite single thread fastener are accomplished. Good agreement between simulated failure mode and real damage mode is observed and the error of damage forces between the both methods is 5.17%, which verifies the rationality of the finite element model.