Mesoscale modelling of tensile response and damage evolution in natural fibre reinforced laminates

A continuum damage mechanics based mesoscale model is developed within a thermodynamics framework to describe the in-plane tensile response in natural fibre composites. The standard Mesoscale Damage Theory (MDT) is modified to incorporate damage and inelasticity evolution in the fibre-direction, thereby capturing the unique nonlinear fibre-direction response evidenced in natural fibre composites (NFC). The multi-ply damage model is validated...