Advances in Materials Science and Engineering
Volume 2020 (2020), Article ID 1360523, 13 pages
https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/1360523

Research Article

Modeling the Structures of Oriented Macrofiber Polymer Composites as Capillary-Porous Bodies

Aleksandr E. Kolosov, Aleksandr V. Gondlyakh, Volodymyr I. Sivetskii, Elena P. Kolosova, Volodymyr V. Vanin, Dmytro E. Sidorov, Aleksandr L. Sokolskiy, Valeriy Yu Shcherbina, and Igor I. Ivitskiy

National Technical University of Ukraine, Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, 37 Prospect Peremohy, Kyiv 03056, Ukraine

Correspondence should be addressed to Aleksandr E. Kolosov; a-kolosov@ukr.net

Received 9 June 2020; Accepted 18 July 2020; Published 24 August 2020

Academic Editor: Barbara Liguori

Copyright © 2020 Aleksandr E. Kolosov et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

The problems of modeling the structure and design of technical parameters for forming of oriented macrofiber polymer composites are analyzed. The considered approaches are based on the application of geometric modeling of the structure of oriented fibrous fillers and the design of the parameters of technical means for forming oriented macrofiber polymer composite materials. Peculiarities of the application of the phenomenological and structural approaches to the design of structural and technological parameters of technical means and to the calculation of the elements of composite structures based on oriented macrofibrous fillers are considered. The technique for determining the structural characteristics of oriented macrofibrillar fillers based on its adequate geometric model as capillary-porous bodies is given. As the structural characteristics, the porosity, the specific internal surface, and also the effective (hydraulic) capillary radius of oriented macrofibrous fillers are considered. It is noted that the obtained structural models are used, in particular, to the prognosis of the design and technological parameters of the technical means for molding macro-fiber polymer composite materials.

1. Introduction

Currently, thermosetting polymer composite materials (PCMs) are one of the most popular structural materials in many innovative industries [1, 2]. So, for example, the increasing use of such PCMs in the aircraft industry [3–5], for critical structural elements of rocket and space technology [6, 7], in shipbuilding, for example, for the repair of ship superstructures [8], in manufacturing protective ammunition (body armor, helmets, etc.), for military personnel [9], in various applications in biomedical engineering [10], in forming the paddles of wind power plants, including fiberglass [11], and in many other areas of science and technology should be noted.

Moreover, every year the scope of PCMs is expanding, and production volumes are increasing. There is a wide variety of thermoset PCMs types that differ in their properties. This allows you to select the optimal composite material for specific operating conditions [12–14]. No less important from a practical point of view, cost analysis in the formation of thermoset composites [15] allows you to choose the most economical method of molding PCMs.

To date, considerable experience has been accumulated in the world in the field of modeling the structure and design parameters of technical means for molding reactoplastic composite materials (PCMs) for structural purposes [16–18]. This class of materials successfully competes and displaces many traditional materials in the most diverse fields of modern technology [19]. The effectiveness of using laminated structures to create high-strength multilayer structural PCMs should be emphasized [20–23], including prediction of their evolutionary stratification during operation activity, based on adequate structural models of laminated capillary-porous structures [24].

Filled PCMs are characterized by significant heterogeneity, in particular, the presence of an interphase layer. Therefore, the development of new PCMs and the prediction of their operational properties, along with the design of the parameters of technical means for their molding, is one of the important tasks of modern chemical engineering.

At present, there are several approaches to solving the problem of predicting the operational properties of PCMs. All of them differ in the degree of generality and have a number of shortcomings. So, most of the models do not take into account the structure of the material, which is one of the main factors that determines its properties.

A number of models are limited by the number of system components. In this case, the calculated values are purely evaluative, giving, as a result, a large “scatter” of acceptable values. All this testifies to the urgency of the problem of creating new methods for modeling the structure and operational properties of the PCMs.

1.1. Analysis of the Literary Sources and the Formulation of the Problem

It should be noted that considerable progress has been made in the design of the technology for molding macrofiber reactoplastic PCMs using the appropriate structural models [25–28]. At the same time, the modeling of the PCM structure is an exceptionally complex scientific and technical problem for a number of reasons related to the peculiarities of their structural organization. It is especially important to establish the relationship between the imperfections in the structural organization of the designed PCMs, which leads to the formation of defects both during production and during PCMs operation activity [29, 30].

Moreover, there are still quite clear theoretical representations, including mathematical dependencies and corresponding methods, allowing to predict with sufficient accuracy the geometric parameters of adequate structural models of such materials [27, 28]. Such models are used, in particular, to predict the design and technological parameters of the technical means for molding PCMs [12], for example, the parameters of the “wet” winding process of oriented fibrous fillers preimpregnated with a polymer binder onto a forming mandrel [31]. In connection with this, when designing such materials, a whole range of modeling methods is used to reduce material and time costs; among them are the mathematical, experimental-statistical, and computer.

It is important to adhere to a systematic approach at all stages of design and subsequent manufacturing of structural materials, the adaptation of which for structurally parametric modeling of oriented reinforced PCMs as capillary-porous bodies is presented in the study [32]. For example, the parameters of radiation heating of viscous polymer matrices during the molding of composite products from the perspective of a systematic approach and taking into account the structural features of the impregnated fibrous fillers were considered in work [33]. Examples of the use of the technique of structural and parametric modeling for the design of technical facilities on the example of ultrasonic treatment when impregnating fibrous fillers as capillary-porous bodies can be found in studies [34–36]. Different technological aspects of physicochemical dynamics of structure formation and rheology during production of PCMs with using the same approach in modeling are analyzed in [37].

The main structural elements of PCMs are the polymer matrix, which performs a consolidating role, and the reinforcing filler, which perceives the main load in the power composite [7]. At the same time, one of the main roles belongs to the above modeling methods for geometric modeling, which works in a “bundle” with mathematical modeling. Moreover, when manufacturing fibrous PCMs, various schemes of fiber packing are used, depending on the functional purpose of the composites.

An important class of PCMs are spatially reinforced PCMs based on oriented (single directed) (macro) fibrous fillers (OFFs) [7]. One of the most common schemes for laying fibers in the formation of spatially reinforced PCMs is the 4D scheme [38], in accordance with which the reinforcing fibers are arranged along four diagonals of the cube (see Figure 1).

Figure 1: Four-directional reinforcement scheme and coordinate system location; x, y, z are the principal axes of elastic symmetry; î is the direction of the reinforcement [38].

The geometry of the spatial reinforcement is created, proceeding primarily from the conditions of the PCM load, and is intended to provide a targeted anisotropy of its properties [38]. At the same time, this 4D scheme makes it possible to obtain a balanced structure of the reinforced composite. Taking into account the symmetry of the structure, it should be noted that the elastic properties of the PCM obtained on the basis of the 4D scheme also have symmetry elements. In this case, one of the reinforcement directions is the third-order elastic symmetry axis.

When the coordinate system, which is connected by one axis with the direction of the fibers, is rotated through an angle of 120° in the plane of the tetrahedron base, all the elastic properties of such a composite remain due to symmetry. Therefore, such a reinforcement structure is more promising for increasing the stiffness of the composite, for example, during shear, in comparison with other reinforcement schemes [38]. Geometric schemes of spatially reinforced with macro-fibers structures with different reinforcement structures are presented in the handbook [7].

The development and implementation of spatially reinforced materials are based on the development and practical implementation of relevant theories. Moreover, these theories have distinctive features for modeling the structure, properties, and technical means of molding PCMs based on macro- and microfillers. At the same time, these theories are the basis for the development of technologies and technological devices that implement them [1].

Modeling the structures of oriented macro-fiber polymer composites as capillary-porous bodies is one of the approaches developed by the authors to the structural-parametric modeling of such PCMs. This is due to the fact that reinforcing fibrous fillers during capillary impregnation with liquid polymer binders are actually capillary-porous bodies; that is, the interfiber space (spatial framework) of the composite is a pore structure. And after impregnation of the OFFs, the stage of their curing follows, which “fixes” the final structure of the fibrous composite.

Capillary models are a pores space in the form of a system of channels with certain geometric properties. Some (most often used) structural-network models of capillary bodies in the form of one-dimensional models are shown in Figure 2 [39].

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

Figure 2: The simplest capillary models of porous bodies [39]: (a) a straight channel; (b) sinuous channel; (c) a channel with departing deadlock pores; (d) a system of parallel channels with an ideal connection; (e) serial model; (f) periodic corrugated channel.

In the model of identical direct channels (Figure 2(a)), the main parameters of the model are the volume fraction of the channels and their diameter. In the model of identical parallel meandering channels (Figure 2(b)), an additional parameter of the curvature of the capillaries is introduced, the tortuosity coefficient β₀ [40].

To take into account stagnant (dead-end) zones (analog of the “bottleneck” effect) in porous materials and their influence on the impurity dispersion, a channel model with dead-end branch pores is used (Figure 2(c)). And in order to take into account the effect of dead-end pores, an additional quantity is introduced, the volume fraction of the dead-end pores.

In cases where fluid filtration is modeled by a nonuniform problem and additional fluid transport occurs across channels, a model of channels connected with each other by a developed system of micropores is applied (Figure 2(d)). This idealization was called the model of parallel capillaries with an ideal connection. In the serial models (Figure 2(d)), the variability of the pore cross section is taken into account, i.e., the presence of contractions and extensions along the length. The diameter of the capillary in the serial models varies abruptly. Corrugated capillaries (Figure 2(e)), in contrast to the serial models, have a diameter continuously varying in length.

Replacing the pore space with a system of one-dimensional channels, in general, one can take into account the tortuosity, corrugation of pores, their various sizes and shapes, and the presence of stagnant zones. But such important properties of porous bodies, as the interrelation of individual capillaries and the intersection of pore space, are practically not taken into account. Therefore, a system of one-dimensional capillaries can be used to adequately describe capillary phenomena only for idealized cases. It is believed that lattice models most fully reflect the spatial structure of porous media, as well as the interconnection of their constituent elements.

Some models of regular (quasi-regular) lattices are shown in Figure 3. The model of a square lattice, in which the particles of different shapes are located (Figure 3(a)), can be used, for example, to describe the processes of impregnation and filtration of liquid media in porous media formed by dispersed particulates. To describe similar processes in porous media consisting of particles, bidisperse models of porous media are used (Figure 3(b)).

(a)

(b)

Figure 3: Lattice regular models of porous media [39, 41]: (a) the system of particles at the lattice sites; (b)‒bidisperse model.

Such models are applicable, for example, to describe the processes taking place in the catalyst grains (microporous bodies in a granular layer). Another example of the use of such models is the description of the extraction process of plant tissues characterized by the regular structure of micro- and macropores. When manufacturing PCMs based on cross-reinforced OFFs, for example, glass of textolite, different types of stitched satin, and twill and plain weave are used as fiberglass reinforcing fillers [42] (see Figure 4).

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

Figure 4: Some types of interlacing of glass fabrics [42]: (a)‒linen; (b)‒satin; (с) and (d)‒twill (fabrics of type 1/2 and 3/1).

The structure of the interlacing of such tissues can be represented as a linear model (in the case of impregnation of only one layer of tissue, which is most often the case in practice) and a regular lattice model (in the case of simultaneous impregnation of several layers of fabric or glass mats located one above the other).

It should also be noted that symmetry is characteristic for the structure of such reinforcing fabrics (see Figure 4), as well as for the structure of spatially reinforced composites (see Figure 1).

It is known that two-dimensional (2D) laminated (fabric) composites (see Figure 4) are characterized by high planar rigidity and strength [43]. At the same time, there was a need for composite materials with improved out-of-plane properties, that is, in thickness. This necessitates the replacement of 2D laminated composites with three-dimensional (3D) textile structures. In this case, the resistance to delamination due to the presence of the z-binder increases the impact strength and resistance to damage of such systems of materials according to [44–46].

Generally, 3D fabric-based composites can be divided into two main groups depending on how deeply the polymer binder penetrates through the fabric (transverse capillary impregnation). When the polymer binder penetrates the entire thickness of the fabric, it is called through-thickness (TT) blocking (see Figures 5(a) and 5(c)). And if the binder holds only adjacent layers (see Figure 5(b)); then it is classified as interlayer (LTL).

(a)

(b)

(c)

Figure 5: Types of 3D woven composites based on the binder path: ORT (a), LTL (b) and AI (c) [46].

The above classification is further can be divided on the categories according to the interlacing angle of the structure. The first category is the angle interlock (AI) in which the interlacing angle between the binder and weft yarns can have any value except 90° (Figure 5(c)). The second category is a special case of the first one. The orthogonal interlock (ORT) (Figure 5(a)) occurs when the interlacing angle between the binder and weft yarns is equal to 90° [43].

The weave pattern used during the weaving process can also affect the classification of 3D woven composites. For example, in the case of ORT weave, the frequency of the z-binder sweeping the top and bottom surfaces of the weave can vary from plain (Figure 6(a)) to twill (Figure 6(b)) or satin (Figure 6(c)) pattern. This will directly affect the unit-cell size, degree of crimp, elastic response, and damage/delamination resistance as highlighted previously in [46–48].

(a)

(b)

(c)

Figure 6: Examples of possible weave binding patterns for ORT: plain (a), twill (b) and satin (c) [46].

The applications of 3D woven composites have been growing tremendously in the industry recently [49–51]. In applications that require load transfer around a bend such as curved beams, T-joints, and brackets, 3D woven AI and LTL architectures have been utilized [52]. The main advantages observed for these architectures are that they have better interlaminar shear and radial stress resistance.

In addition, in study [44], successfully using 3D woven AI and LTL architectures in truss beams with integrated off-axis stiffeners was reported. For example, 3D woven LTL composites have been utilized in the automotive industry [53–55]. The use of ORT woven composite in ultralight weight heat exchangers [56] and for manufacturing engine casings and fan blades for A-320-neo, 737-MAX, and Comac C-919 is known [57].

In the general case, the concepts of capillary-porous media are much broader than those described above. Moreover, the more complex the structural model of such bodies, the more complex its geometric model and mathematical modeling of the processes of transport of a liquid medium in it. Therefore, it is necessary to find a certain balance when choosing an adequate geometric (structural) model of capillary-porous bodies for a particular technological process.

In this paper we present an analysis of only a few developed approaches to solving this problem. Such approaches are based on the application of geometric and mathematical modeling of the structure of OFFs and the design of technical parameters for shaping oriented macro-fiber PCMs, in particular, the basic technological processes of capillary impregnation.

1.2. Purpose and Objectives of the Study

The aim of this study is adaptation of modeling the structures of oriented macro-fiber polymer composites for developing of methodological approach for the geometric and computer models of the basic technological process of “free” impregnation of oriented fibrous fillers as capillary-porous bodies with liquid polymeric binders.

To achieve this goal, the following tasks are formulated.

(1)An analysis of approaches to modeling the structure of the cross section of thin section of oriented fibrous composites, including the construction of histograms of the distribution of distances between adjacent fibers in the cross section of thin section.(2)Microstructural analysis of the cross section of thin section of oriented fibrous composites, including the construction of histograms of the distribution of distances between adjacent fibers in the cross section of thin section.(3)Obtaining analytical dependencies of the curve distributions of distances between adjacent fibers in a cross section of thin section and modeling on their basis the structural parameters of oriented fibrous fillers as capillary-porous bodies, namely, porosity, effective capillary radius, and specific surface area.(4)Experimental determination of the technological characteristics of liquid epoxy oligomers, namely, the wetting angle, wetting ability, the maximum height of impregnation, and the study of the kinetic curves of the process of longitudinal impregnation, depending on the tension of the fibrous filler, as well as prediction of the dimensions of the impregnating bath.

The above aspects are discussed in this article.

1.3. Research Methodology (Materials and Methods)

The method of investigation is a complex one, which involves the use of set theory, theory of integral geometry and geometric probabilities, computer-aided design systems, system analysis, computational methods and computer graphics, experimental-statistical modeling, and microstructural analysis of thin sections of solidified composites with subsequent confirmation of the adequacy of the results obtained by experiments and tests.

The subject of the study is geometric and computer models of the basic technological process of “free” impregnation of oriented fibrous fillers (fiberglass and organofiber) as capillary-porous bodies with liquid polymeric binders in the form of liquid epoxy compositions. In the process of microstructural analysis, histograms of the distribution of distances between adjacent fibers in the cross section of the section were constructed. The obtained analytical dependencies of the distribution curves were used to model the structural parameters of oriented fibrous fillers as capillary-porous bodies, including porosity ε, effective capillary radius ref, and specific surface area Sss. We studied the kinetic curves of the longitudinal impregnation process depending on the tension force of the fibrous filler, as well as the relationship of the structural parameters of the composite model and the kinetic parameters of the capillary impregnation process. The number of tests per each variable parameter under investigation was (7–10) with a reliability of P = 95%.

2. Results and Discussion

2.1. An Analysis of Approaches to Modeling the Structure of the Cross Section of Thin Section of Oriented Fibrous Composites

According to the generally accepted concept, two basic approaches to the design of structural and technological parameters of technical molding tools and calculation of structural elements of composites based on OFFs are distinguished: phenomenological and structural [12]. Within the framework of the first approach, the composite is considered as a solid (consolidated) material with a certain tensor of reduced elastic (viscoelastic) characteristics. The second approach is based on the assumption of heterogeneity of the properties of the analyzed continuum, which contains reinforcing cylindrical inclusions (macro-fibers) of arbitrary cross section.

The first approach because of the simplicity of its prerequisites is more common. At the same time, it can only be regarded as an approximate one. This is due to the fact that the properties of constituent structural elements of composites (tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, etc.) on the basis of OFFs differ significantly between them (for example, by an order of magnitude or more). Therefore, the reduced (averaged) physicomechanical constants of such a monolithic system often lose physical meaning.

At the same time, the second approach allows us to more adequately model the parameters of the technology, as well as predict the stress-strain state of the structures taking into account the specific type of loading. This is due to the fact that the real structure of the studied composites is based on OFFs. So, for example, when modeling the parameters of the basic technological processes for molding reactoplastic PCMs, in particular, the processes of free capillary impregnation and “wet” winding, new model physicomathematical and procedural-computerized approaches are used to describe the transfer of the impregnating liquid in the structure of OFFs. The latter are realized using geometric (structural) models [39].

At present it is primarily (1) structural-network models of porous and corpuscular media of various structures–“Pore Network Models” (random, regular, and other grids and regular packages); (2) methodology and mathematical apparatus of the theory of percolation (impregnation or leakage of liquids through porous materials); for these processes, it is the consideration of the transfer conditions of the impregnating fluid in the filler framework depending on the statistical characteristics of the gratings that model dispersed or porous media, the analogue of OFF (percolation in bonds, percolation in knots) [58, 59]; (3) cluster analysis (cluster-bundle)–statistical identification of isolated structures [60]; in the transport problems (impregnation of OFFs with liquid polymeric binders), assemblages–clusters of conducting (or impregnated) regions, particles, molecules, etc., their dimensions, characteristics, and connection with the transportable properties of the liquid medium are studied; (4) fractal analysis–“Fractal Theory”–modeling and studying the properties of geometric elements (lines, surfaces, volumetric formations), taking into account the change in geometric values (length, area, volume) when the scale of measurement is changed [61].

In this case, often all of the above four approaches are used together. It should be noted that, in the simulation, the fibrous structure of capillary-porous bodies in the general case can not be regarded as a simple sum of linear capillaries with the same cross section. In practice, capillaries in fibrous systems differ significantly from cylindrical tubes [12]. In addition, as a rule, the capillary is not circular, and its walls are smooth. Considering the structure of OFF as a capillary-porous body, it should also be taken into account that the shape and area of the cross section of real capillaries can vary over a wide range along its length [62]. Also, capillaries can branch, join, and terminate in cul-de-sacs or large-volume pores [62].

In the general case, the concepts of capillary-porous media are much broader than those described above. Moreover, the more complex the structural model of such bodies, the more complex its geometric model and mathematical modeling of the processes of transport of a liquid medium in it. Therefore, it is necessary to find a certain balance when choosing an adequate geometric (structural) model of capillary-porous bodies for a particular technological process [1].

2.2. Some Developed Approaches to Determining the Parameters of the Structural Model of Composites

The above-mentioned data predetermines the need for more detailed consideration of the structural (physical, mathematical, and geometric) models of capillary-porous bodies, which are extremely diverse. At the same time, the common for them is the presence of a solid phase (OFF) and a system of voids in the form of channels and cavities. The solid phase of such bodies is called the skeleton of the body, and the system of voids is called the pore space. The volume fraction of voids is the porosity of ε, the surface of voids is the inner surface, and its value, referred to as unit volume of the body, is the specific surface area Sss [39, 42].

Some approaches to determining the parameters of the structural model of composites are shown in the example of designing parameters for the process of capillary impregnation of OFFs with liquid polymer binders. When determining the parameters of the kinetic equation of the “free” capillary impregnation process [63], it is necessary to correctly determine the structural characteristics of the OFFs on the basis of its adequate geometric model. As such characteristics, in the most general case, the porosity ε, the specific inner surface Sss, and the effective (hydraulic) capillary radius ref OFF, are considered. Thus, four approaches to the determination of the parameters of the geometric model of the structure of OFF, including its effective (hydraulic) capillary radius ref, were developed [64–66].

The first of them (No. (1)) is based on the microstructural analysis of the cross section of an epoxy composite on the basis of OFF. The second (No. (2)) is the definition of ref on the basis of an analysis of the typical kinetic curve of the “free” impregnation process. The third (No. (3)) is the definition of ref on the calculated value for the model case of a highly compacted OFF of circular cross section (for hexagonal packing of fibers). The fourth (No. (4)) is the determination of the ref depending on the force of its tension N during impregnation.

The latter approach is based on the assumption that, as a result of the tension of the fibrous filler, the ref value will change, namely, decrease. In this case, the impregnation rate will decrease both as a result of a change in the structure and as a result of a decrease in the thickness of the OFF. Therefore, the processing of the experimental kinetic impregnation curves obtained for various values of the tension force N of OFF allows one to obtain the desired experimental-statistical dependence ref = f (N).

Figure 7 shows the characteristic experimental dependence of the effective capillary radius of the oriented glass filler ref = f (N) upon its impregnation with epoxy composition (EC).

Figure 7: Dependence of the calculated value of ref oriented glass filler on the tensile force N at an impregnation temperature of T = 50°C.

Obviously, according to the developed approach, for the studied impregnation temperatures T, it is also necessary to find the experimental dependencies ref = f (N), that is, to construct a family of these experimental curves. After that, using the methods of experimental-statistical modeling, it is necessary to find the coefficients of the approximating equation for a specific value of N, that is, to find the desired value of ref.

So, for example, for the curve shown in Figure 7, a similar equation can be written as

where X denotes the specific tensile force N (N/m) of the woven filler during the impregnation process.

The implementation of the last three above-mentioned approaches (No. 2‒No. 4) is not particularly complicated. At the same time, the first of these approaches (No. 1) deserves a separate consideration. This is due in particular to the fact that the first approach is applicable for determining the structural characteristics for both optically transparent and optically opaque (e.g., metal fiber) oriented composite fiber media.

This approach is based on an experimental study of the microstructure of such solidified media and the construction of the corresponding distribution curves characterizing the parameters of this microstructure. Figure 8 shows a characteristic photograph of the microsection of the unidirectional fibrous epoxy PCM.

Figure 8: A characteristic photograph of the microsection of the unidirectional fibrous PCM made from oriented epoxy organoplastic. Magnification 1200.

First of all, an adequate model of the structure of OFF must take into account the stochastic character of the distribution of fibers in the structure of the real composite [64–66]. On the basis of the found parameters of the geometric model of the structure of OFF, optimum selection of the optimal reinforcement scheme and development of rational engineering at the design stage of the molded structure are carried out in the optimum. A prognosis is also made for the stress-strain state of the structure, taking into account the nature of the acting load [67]. A variant of the structure of OFF is a geometric model of the structure of a capillary-porous body, which consists of a system of parallel-tortuous capillaries of different radii. It can be formalized with the help of a pore distribution function of radius ρ with respect to the dimensions of φ (ρ) [63].

The developed approach to the determination of the effective capillary radius of the ref is as follows. The microsection of the oriented PCM is made in a direction transverse to the fibers. Further, the length distribution of the ext‐chords of the fibers or the distribution function φ (ρ) = G (ℓ) of pores by size ℓ is experimentally investigated. In this case, the “ext-chords” denote the distances between adjacent fibers in the cross section of the composite (i.e., equivalent diameter, or twice the radius of the pore ref). In the general case, the lengths of the ext-chords are random.

When the condition of the best approximation of the theoretical and experimental distribution curves is satisfied, the porosity ε, the specific inner surface Sss, and the effective (equivalent) capillary radius ref of the desired OFF as a capillary-porous body are computed using the ext-chords length distribution function φ(ρ) = G(ℓ).

2.3. An Analytical Determination of the Structural Characteristics of Oriented Fibrous Fillers

The porosity ε in a capillary-porous body that simulates the OFF structure can be defined as [42, 59]

where N⁰ is the number of measurements between the fibers in the plane of thin section oriented PCM.

In turn, the specific internal surface Sss of such an OFF can be defined as

where the coefficients k₀ and β₀ can be interpreted as correction factors that take into account the specificity of the OFF structure as a capillary-porous medium, respectively, the surface roughness and tortuosity of the equivalent cylindrical capillary [62].

If we take as the effective (or equivalent) capillary radius ref of the sought OFF hydraulic radius, which is determined by analogy with a cylindrical capillary as the ratio of twice the pore volume to their surface, then we will have

Typically, the experimental curve for the distribution of extinction lengths of the OFF’s ext-chords, obtained on the basis of N⁰ = 2500 measurements in the plane of the section, is shown in Figure 9.

Figure 9: The histogram and the curve of the distribution of the lengths of the ext-chords of adjacent fibers (circles) G (ℓ): experimental ordinates (○); model ordinates (●) and a model curve for the distribution of the lengths of the ext-chords of neighboring fibers (──); No is the number of measurements.

For practical calculations, the model function of the distribution of the length of the ext‐chords of fibers, indicated in Figure 9 as (──), which minimizes deviations from experimental ordinates (○), is convenient to be described in this form:

where bk, ck are positive constants determined from the condition of the best approximation of the ordinates of the theoretical curve (5) to the experimental ordinates; Г (1/ck) is Euler gamma-function.

For case (5), the mathematical expectation of a random variable ρ is

The formula for porosity will take the following form:

and formula (4) for equivalent capillary radius ref is written as

So, with the number of measurements of the distance between the fibers N⁰ = 2500 in the plane of the cut-off OFF (see Figures 8 and 9) and with the values β₀ = 1.1, according to [40], the mathematical expectation (6) is M (ρ) = 8.158 μm.

In this case, in equation (4), the constants bk = 0.129, ck = 0.9812, and by dependency (7), the porosity is ε = 0.28 (i.e., the reinforcement ratio or volume content OFF in the PCM structure is 1 − ε = 0.72), and by equation (8), the effective (equivalent) capillary radius ref = 5.96 μm≈6 μm.

2.4. Designing the Parameters of Technology and Equipment for the Production of Composites

The tasks of designing technology and equipment for the production of traditional and constructional PCMs are aimed at identifying and studying the interrelations between the structural, mechanical, and geometric parameters of products, on one hand, and the technological factors of their production, on the other.

Thus, for example, the adequate geometric model of the structure of OFFs is used to determine the parameters of the refined mathematical model of the technological process of “free” impregnation of OFF with ECs. This is done on the basis of using the classical theory of filtration for laminar flow of a viscous incompressible non-Newtonian fluid in a capillary-porous body, using approaches in studies [42, 59, 62].

2.5. The Method of Modeling the Parameters of the Process of “Free” Impregnation of Oriented Fibrous Fillers with Liquid Polymer Binders

The kinetic equation of the capillary impregnation process allows predicting the design and technological parameters of the process. For example, to find the dimensions of the impregnation bath (length and height), it is desirable to estimate the maximum height and speed of the process of longitudinal “free” impregnation of OFF with liquid EC at a given impregnation temperature.

Wetting ability , calculated by the maximum height of the EC rise along the fiber under the action of surface tension forces, can be found by the formula [42, 59]

where h∞ is the maximum lifting height (longitudinal impregnation) of the polymer liquid; Rk is the radius of the capillary.

The current time of longitudinal “free” impregnation t and time to reach saturation t∞ of OFF with liquid EC, according to [63], is written as follows:

By differentiating equation (10), one can find the impregnation rate (until the impregnation saturation point is OFF):

For curve 3 (tension values N = 0.3 N/m), we give the values of equations (9)‒(11) for the model distribution function of the lengths ext-chord of fibers, which minimizes the deviations from the experimental ordinates (○)–see Figure 10.

Figure 10: The characteristic kinetic curves of the longitudinal “free” impregnation of the organic fiber bundle of the SVM by EC brand ED-20 at a temperature of 40°C and with variable tension forces Nt per OFF thread (tension values Nt are shown in curves): 1 − N = 0.05 N/m; 2 − N = 0.20 N/m; 3 − N = 0.3 N/m; (●)–theoretical curve constructed by equation (9); (○)–experimental values; t–time.

The dynamic viscosity of the EC solution at this temperature of T = 40°С is 0.48 Pa·s, and the wetting ability is  = 11.9·10⁻² N/m. In particular, for the experimental kinetic curve of “free” impregnation 3 (Figure 10), the parameters turned out to be h∞ = 3.15∙10⁻³ m; t∞ = 10.5 s;  = 1.03∙10⁻³ m/s.

Analytically obtained kinetic equations of “free” longitudinal impregnation of oriented and woven fibrous fillers with liquid ECs allow to predict the impregnation time and the speed of broaching the fibrous filler through the impregnating bath, and also to design its dimensions depending on the amount of tension force impregnation.

It is convenient to use adequate structural models for numerical modeling of the OFF parameters, as well as for predicting the parameters of the capillary impregnation process. For extremely reinforced PCMs based on OFF, a geometric model of Vanin’s medium is used [67]. Elementary cells of this geometric model are shown in Figure 11.

Figure 11: The geometric Vanin’s model for extremely reinforced PCMs medium.

The geometric model of Vanin's medium (Figure 11) is represented by a system of circular cylindrical fibers whose axes are parallel and located at the nodes of the unit cell (a doubly periodic lattice of parallelograms). The space between the fibers is filled with a binder polymer medium, and the fiber cross-sections must not overlap [1]. And the plane of the section of the investigated composite on the basis of the OFF is modeled by a doubly periodic continuation of the unit cell.

As the packing parameters of cylindrical fibers (Figure 11), the lengths of its sides ω₁ and ω₂ and the angle between them α are chosen. The unit of measurement of distances in the model plane is, for convenience, the base length of the side of the unit cell ω₁. The criterion for the adequacy of the structural model of the composite under study is the coincidence with a certain degree of accuracy (at least 90% of the component) of the coefficients and probabilistic characteristics of the curves of the distributions of the lengths of the chords of circles and the distances between neighboring fibers (ext-chords). Also, in the specified confidence limits, the values of the “porosity” ε and the relative content of the binder in the model plane and in the natural composite on the basis of OFF, respectively, should be found.

These quantities are determined as a result of measurements carried out along a random secant line. The latter “rushes” randomly in the model plane and in the plane of microsections of the cross section of the full-scale shell structure. Subsequently, knowing the parameters of an adequate structural model (see Figure 11), one can predict the stress-strain state of a real PCM based on the corresponding analytical dependencies [1].

The method of determining the parameters of an adequate geometric model of the structure of an OFF (see Figure 11) is as follows (see Figures 12(a)–12(d)) [32].

Figure 12: An illustration of the implementation of the methodology for constructing (a)–(d) an adequate geometric model of the microstructure of OFF in the technology of their “free” impregnation with a liquid epoxy binder: ref is the effective capillary radius; df is the average fiber diameter; ℓc is capillary length; θ is the wetting contact angle.

From the model of the structure of OFF, which in the general case consists of a system of parallel-winding capillaries of different radii (Figure 12(a)), and which is determined by the function of the distribution of pores of radius ρ in terms of the sizes of φ(ρ), they are transformed using prognostic analytical relations, for example, given in [63], to averaging the structure of OFF as a regular structure of linear capillaries with the same longitudinal section (Figure 12(b)).

The scheme for filling the impregnating liquid of the latter is shown in Figures 12(c) and 12(d) (cross section of the OFF). Those, as a result, pass to the impregnation scheme for a single capillary of length ℓc (Figure 12(d)), whose diameter is 2ref. It should be noted that the above-described approach to the construction of model distribution curves (obtained analytically and as a result of numerical experimental) of chord lengths and extensions in the structure of OFF was adopted from the theory of integral geometry and geometric probabilities [68, 69] and adapted to the OFF in the studies [32].

Within the framework of this theory, we study geometric objects of a random character (point fields, lines, mosaics, etc.) that are invariant under the transformation groups of space. In particular, convex figures are studied in the theory of geometric probabilities, which are intersected by random lines. And these figures can have a general shape, either convex or circular. The main method used involves placing a random line of length L, the so-called “secant,” into the study area. After that, intersections with figures that do not have common points are measured.

Various questions of the geometric modeling of the structure of oriented macro-fiber reactoplastic composites used to predict the design and technological parameters of thermosetting molding, as well as to calculate their stress-strain state, can be found in [7, 12, 67]. In particular, the influence of structural parameters (reinforcement schemes) and technological parameters (properties of reinforcement and polymer matrix) on characteristics (operational properties) of hardened PCMs on their basis is considered. We also note that, in the geometric modeling of such structures, as well as the nature of the applied forces and the stresses arising in this process, depending on the stress-strain state, the use of symmetry principles is an effective method [7].

It should also be noted that, in order to find the dimensions of the impregnation bath (length and height), it is necessary to estimate the maximum height and speed of longitudinal “free” impregnation of OFFs with liquid ECs [70] at a given impregnation temperature according to the analytical dependencies briefly presented in [63]. To design the optimal tension force of impregnated fibrous fillers in circumferential “wet” winding allows the study of experimental results on the influence of technological impregnation regimes under a certain tension force on the strength of impregnated and cured fibrous fillers [71].

Moreover, in order to minimize material and time costs, as a rule, a technique of structural and parametric modeling of the design and technological parameters of technology and equipment (tools) for the production of reactoplastic oriented reinforced PCMs taking into account the structural organization of OFFs is used [72].

Also, based on the developed approach, PCMs modeling is possible using both chemical modification and combined physicochemical modification of the components of PCMs including OFFs of rope and woven types [73, 74]. At the same time, the modification should ultimately lead to improved PCMs operational characteristics [75] and also contribute to increasing the productivity of molding and energy saving when receiving reinforced composites due to the ordering of their structure, improvement of interfacial interaction at the “fiber-polymer matrix” interface, and reduction of voids in the formed composite [76].

3. Conclusions

(1)Features of modeling the structure of oriented macrofiber reactoplastic composites using the phenomenological and structural approaches are analyzed. The technique used to determine the structural characteristics of oriented macrofibrous fillers as capillary-porous bodies is described on the basis of the use of an adequate geometric model of the structure. The parameters of the structural model are determined using the apparatus of the theory of geometric probabilities and integral geometry.(2)The porosity, specific internal surface, and effective (hydraulic) capillary radius of oriented macrofibrous fillers are considered as the main structural characteristics of the capillary-porous body. The latter simulates the real interfiber space of a reinforcing fibrous filler in the process of its capillary impregnation by ECs.(3)Analytically obtained kinetic equations of “free” longitudinal impregnation of oriented and woven fibrous fillers with liquid ECs allow to predict the impregnation time and the speed of broaching the fibrous filler through the impregnating bath, and also to design its dimensions depending on the amount of tension force impregnation.(4)The use of the described approach provides the fundamental possibility of determining the typical structural models of existing and new oriented composites.

Data Availability

The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

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