A new model for time-efficient analysis of nonlinear composites with arbitrary orientation distribution of fibres

This study aims to develop a time-efficient and accurate method for estimating the effective nonlinear behaviour of composites reinforced with misaligned short fibres. The ground-breaking aspect of the proposed approach is combining the two-stage hybrid homogenization method with the novel formulation of the pseudo-grain discretization method. The numerical solution of the equivalent inclusion problem is conducted in the first homogenization stage for the finite number of pseudo-grains. The obtained solution can be generalized for arbitrary orientation distribution and volume fraction of fibres during the time-efficient second homogenization stage. The proposed method's accuracy has been verified both in linear elastic and elastic–plastic regimes by comparing the obtained results with reference solutions achieved by using well-established analytical and numerical methods.