A new simulation method for characterizing the shear behavior of needled carbon fiber composites

Due to the complex internal structure of needled carbon fiber composites, the interlayer shear behavior is hard to predict in current simulations. This study proposes a new meso‐level simulation method, which uses double cohesive zone models to account for the additional enhancement of interfacial shear properties during needling. Constitutive models with damage criteria are extended and applied to describe the failure of the nonwoven fabric, short fiber felt, and needled fiber bundles. Short beam shear tests are carried out to obtain experimental shear properties and fracture mechanisms. The predicted load versus displacement relation and damage evolution agree well with the experiments. The errors of interlaminar shear strength and failure displacement between simulations and average values of experiments are 2.597% and 9.452%, respectively, which validate the accuracy of the proposed simulation method. Highlights The shear failure behavior and evolution of needled composites are simulated on a meso‐level. Double cohesive zone models characterize the additional enhancement of interlaminar shear properties. Different modified constitutive models are used for unique components. The experimental results well verify the validity of the simulation. The meso‐level modeling and simulation for characterizing the shear behavior of needled carbon fiber composites.