Abstract
The performance of single field macro elements based on subdomain integration was evaluated. A macro element is defined to be an element which can account for microstructure within a single element. The effective engineering properties have been obtained using single field macro elements. These have been compared with reference values calculated by the traditional finite element method. The results show that the macro element performs very well in predicting the effective material properties. The study also indicates that the performance of the macro element improves with increasing the interpolation order and the spatial refinement. The effect of waviness ratio and tow cross section shape on the effective material properties has also been examined. The performance of the macro element under various simplifying assumptions such as plane strain or plane stress was evaluated.
Noh, Jae Huek (1997). Evaluation of single-field macro element for predicting 3D material properties of plain weave composites. Master's thesis, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /ETD -TAMU -1997 -THESIS -N64.