This paper reports the computational results of the bending fatigue behaviors of four-step three-dimensional rectangular braided composite materials from a meso-scale approach. A full-size meso-scale model of a four-step three-dimensional braided composite was established to numerically analyze the deformation and damage under cyclic bending loading. The stress distribution, energy absorption, hysteresis loop features and damage morphologies were obtained to explain the structural effects on the deformation and damage of the three-dimensional braided composite material subjected to three-point bending cyclic loading. The influences of the microstructure on the fatigue behaviors have been discussed for designing the three-dimensional braided composite material with high fatigue damage tolerance.
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