A finite deformation Cosserat continuum model for uncured carbon fibre composites

A new three-dimensional, finite deformation Cosserat continuum model for the elastic response of uncured carbon fibre composites is presented. The new composite process model captures the bending contribution of bundles of fibres at the microscale within a mesoscale continuum description of a composite ply. This is achieved by introducing higher-order, independent rotational degrees of freedom into the continuum formulation. This paper...