As an advanced composite material, the 3D braided composite has received more and more attention in foreign countries. However, it has received less attention in China. The geometric unit cell which can describe the b...As an advanced composite material, the 3D braided composite has received more and more attention in foreign countries. However, it has received less attention in China. The geometric unit cell which can describe the basic structure and the relationship between the braiding angle and geometric parameters of the fabric and fiber volume ratio are given in this paper based on two 3D braiding processes, namely, the four-step and the twostep ones. Several existing mechanical models to predict groperties of the 3D braided comPOsites are discussed and their shortcomings are pointed out herein. Then a new model called the inclined laminal combination model is proposed, which is based on the classical laminated plate theory and can predict the basic mechanical behavior of the two 3D braided composites with four-step or two-step braid. In the model, each yarn in the unit cell is regarded as an inclined laminate and then a 3D analysis is performed. It is found that the predicted mechanical properties of the 3D braided composites by the proposed model are compared well with the experimental data.展开更多
A comprehensive study of yarn architecture of two-step rectangle 3D braided composites is presented. Firstly, the braided surface, the shapes of yarns and the intertwining between braider yams and axial yams are analy...A comprehensive study of yarn architecture of two-step rectangle 3D braided composites is presented. Firstly, the braided surface, the shapes of yarns and the intertwining between braider yams and axial yams are analyzed from experimentation. With the microstructure being defined, three levels of unit cell structure are identified, i.e. large unit cell, second unit cell and minimal unit cell. Secondly, based on the minimal unit cell in the interior and on the boundary of the entire cross-section, the deformations of axial yams squashed by braider yams contribute to the increase of the fiber packing factors of axial yams. Finally, the predicted fiber volume fraction of the composites decreases with the increase of linear density of the braider yam and the pitch length. Favorable correlations between the predicted and the experimental results arc found for six groups of the composites.展开更多
Electrical-mechanical coupling behaviors and thermal-resistance effects of 3D braided composites under external loads are important for structural health monitoring(SHM). Electrical conductivity and electrical-mechani...Electrical-mechanical coupling behaviors and thermal-resistance effects of 3D braided composites under external loads are important for structural health monitoring(SHM). Electrical conductivity and electrical-mechanical coupling behaviors of 3D braided carbon fiber/epoxy composites under uniaxial tension were reported. It was found that the transverse resistance decreased and the axial resistance increased with the increasing braiding angle. The fractional change in resistance increased linearly as the strain was below 1.0%, and the nonlinearity appeared when the strain exceeded 1.0%. The negative temperature coefficient(NTC) effect was observed before the glass transition temperature Tg of epoxy resin, while there was a positive temperature coefficient(PTC) effect after Tg.展开更多
Textile-reinforced composites,due to their excellent highstrength-to-low-mass ratio, provide promising alternatives to conventional structural materials in many high-tech sectors. 3D braided composites are a kind of a...Textile-reinforced composites,due to their excellent highstrength-to-low-mass ratio, provide promising alternatives to conventional structural materials in many high-tech sectors. 3D braided composites are a kind of advanced composites reinforced with 3D braided fabrics; the complex nature of 3D braided composites makes the evaluation of the quality of the product very difficult. In this investigation,a defect recognition platform for 3D braided composites evaluation was constructed based on dual-tree complex wavelet packet transform( DT-CWPT) and backpropagation( BP) neural networks. The defects in 3D braided composite materials were probed and detected by an ultrasonic sensing system. DT-CWPT method was used to analyze the ultrasonic scanning pulse signals,and the feature vectors of these signals were extracted into the BP neural networks as samples. The type of defects was identified and recognized with the characteristic ultrasonic wave spectra. The position of defects for the test samples can be determined at the same time. This method would have great potential to evaluate the quality of 3D braided composites.展开更多
The effects of microstructure on quasi-static transverse loading behavior of 3D circular braided composite tubes were studied. Transverse loading tests were conducted. Transverse load-deflection curves were obtained t...The effects of microstructure on quasi-static transverse loading behavior of 3D circular braided composite tubes were studied. Transverse loading tests were conducted. Transverse load-deflection curves were obtained to analyze the effects of braiding parameters including the braiding angle, the wall thickness, and the diameter on the transverse loading of 3D circular braided composite tubes. Breaking loads, moduli and strengths had also been used to describe the transverse loading behaviors. The failure morphologies were shown to reveal damage mechanisms. From the results, the increase in braiding angle, wall thickness and diameter increases the ability of anti-deformation and breaking load of braided tubes. The breaking load of specimen with a braiding angle of 45° is about 1.68 times that of specimen with a braiding angle of 15°. The breaking load of specimen with 4 layers of yarns is about 2.15 times that of specimen with 2 layers of yarns. The breaking load of the tube with a diameter of 25.5 mm is about 2.39 times that of the tube with a diameter of 20.5 mm.展开更多
Based on unit cell model, the 3D 4-directional braided composites can be simplified as unidirectional composites with different local axial coordinate system and the compliance matrix of unidirectional composites can ...Based on unit cell model, the 3D 4-directional braided composites can be simplified as unidirectional composites with different local axial coordinate system and the compliance matrix of unidirectional composites can be defined utilizing the bridge model. The total stiffness matrix of braided composites can be obtained by the volume average stiffness of unidirectional composites with different local axial coordinate system and the engineering elastic constants of braided composites were computed further. Based on the iso-strain assumption and the bridge model, the stress distribution of fiber bundle and matrix of different unidirectional composites can be determined and the tensile strength of 3D 4-directional braided composites was predicted by means of the Hoffman's failure criterion for the fiber bundle and Mises' failure criterion for the matrix.展开更多
The longitude tensile properties of 3-Dimension-4-directional(3D-4d) braided C/Si C composites(CMCs) were investigated with the help of a double scale model. This model involves micro-scale and unit-cell scale. In...The longitude tensile properties of 3-Dimension-4-directional(3D-4d) braided C/Si C composites(CMCs) were investigated with the help of a double scale model. This model involves micro-scale and unit-cell scale. In micro-scale, the tensile properties of fiber tows which involves matrix cracking, interfacial debonding, and fiber failure are studied. The unit-cell scale model can reflect the braided structure and simulate the tensile properties of 3D-4d CMCs by introducing the tensile properties of fiber tows into it. Quasi-static tensile tests of 3D-4d braided CMCs were performed on a PWS-100 test system. The predicted tensile stressstrain curve by the double scale model is in good agreement with that of the experimental results.展开更多
Double-scale model for three-dimension-4 directional(3D-4d) braided C/SiC composites has been proposed to investigate its elastic properties. The double-scale model involves micro-scale that takes fiber/ matrix/poro...Double-scale model for three-dimension-4 directional(3D-4d) braided C/SiC composites has been proposed to investigate its elastic properties. The double-scale model involves micro-scale that takes fiber/ matrix/porosity in fibers tows into consideration with unit cell which considers the 3D-4d braiding structure. Micro-optical photographs of composites have been taken to study the braided structure. Then a parameterized finite element model that reflects the structure of 3D-4d braided composites is proposed. Double-scale elastic modulus prediction model is developed to predict the elastic properties of 3D-4d braided C/SiC composites. Stiffness and eompliance-averaging method and energy method are adopted to predict the elastic properties of composites. Static-tension experiments have been conducted to investigate the elastic modulus of 3D-4d braided C/SiC composites. Finally, the effect of micro-porosity in fibers tows on the elastic modulus of 3D-4d braided C/SiC composites has been studied. According to the conclusion of this thesis, elastic modulus predicted by energy method and stiffness-averaging method both find good agreement with the experimental values, when taking the micro-porosity in fibers tows into consideration. Differences between the theoretical and experimental values become smaller.展开更多
Three-dimensional(3D)braided composites with better properties have been used in some particular industries.Some have had obvious signs of crack when they are braided.Others have had catastrophic failures occuring wit...Three-dimensional(3D)braided composites with better properties have been used in some particular industries.Some have had obvious signs of crack when they are braided.Others have had catastrophic failures occuring without warning.A new methodology for the analysis of failure modes in composite materials by means of acoustic emission techniques has been developed.The occurrence of fiber-breakage during tensile loading tests has been observed by the acoustic emission technology.Using acoustic emission technology is investigated as a means of monitoring 3D braided composites structures,detecting damage,and predicting impending damage.Some of the findings of the research project were presented.展开更多
Three-dimensional(3 D)braided composites are a kind of advanced ones and are used in the aeronautical and astronautical fields more widely. The advantages, usages, shortages and disadvantages of 3D braided composite...Three-dimensional(3 D)braided composites are a kind of advanced ones and are used in the aeronautical and astronautical fields more widely. The advantages, usages, shortages and disadvantages of 3D braided composites are analyzed, and the possible approach of improving the properties of the materials is presented, that is, a new type of 3D full 5-directional braided composites is developed. The methods of making this type of preform are proposed. It is pointed out that the four-step braiding which is the most possible to realize industrialized production almost has no effect on the composites' properties. By analyzing the simulation model,the advantages of the material compared with the 3D 4-directional and 5-directional materials are presented. Finally, a microstructural model is analyzed to lay the foundation for the future theoretical analysis of these composites.展开更多
The aim of this study is to investigate nonlinear bending for a 3-Dimensional(3D)braided composite cylindrical panel which has transverse loads on its finite length. By refining a micro-macro-mechanical model, the 3...The aim of this study is to investigate nonlinear bending for a 3-Dimensional(3D)braided composite cylindrical panel which has transverse loads on its finite length. By refining a micro-macro-mechanical model, the 3D braided composite can be treated as a representative average cell system. The geometric structural properties of its components deeply depend on their positions in the section of the cylindrical panel. The embedded elastic medium of the panel can be described by a Pasternak elastic foundation. Via using the shell theory of the von Ka′rma′nDonnell type of kinematic nonlinearity, governing equations can be established to get higherorder shear deformation. The mixed Galerkin-perturbation method is applied to get the nonlinear bending behavior of the 3D braided cylindrical panel with a simply supported boundary condition.Based on the analysis of the braided composite cylindrical panel with variable initial stress, geometric parameter, fiber volume fraction, and elastic foundation, serial numerical illustrations are archived to represent the appropriate nonlinear bending responses.展开更多
To effectively get the thermal expansion coef- ficient (CTE) of three-dimensional (3D) braided C/C composites and study the variations, a VC++ program with graphical user interfaces was obtained, based on the ya...To effectively get the thermal expansion coef- ficient (CTE) of three-dimensional (3D) braided C/C composites and study the variations, a VC++ program with graphical user interfaces was obtained, based on the yam unit model and numerical analysis. With the limited basic properties of carbon fibers and carbon matrix, CTE of 3D braided C/C composites is obtained at 85 ~C. The deviation between the simulated and exl^erimental axial CTE of 3D braided C/C composites is no more than 11%. The effects of different parameters (including the braiding angle of 3D braided preform, the fiber volume fraction and the porosity of 3D braided C/C composites, and the elastic modulus, Poisson's ratio and CTEs of carbon fibers and carbon matrix) were analyzed with the program. The results show that the axial CTE of C/C composites decreases with the increase of the braiding angle, the fiber volume fraction, and the porosity of 3D braided C/C composites. The transverse elastic modulus of carbon fibers has the greatest effect on the axial CTE among the studied mechanical parameters, followed by the elastic modulus and Poisson's ratio of carbon matrix.展开更多
In order to study the failure patterns and strength of 3D braided composites from the microscopic view, the damage propagation under tensile loading steps in three kinds of unit cells is simulated. The homogenization ...In order to study the failure patterns and strength of 3D braided composites from the microscopic view, the damage propagation under tensile loading steps in three kinds of unit cells is simulated. The homogenization formula of micro-stress and the solving approach of finite element method are given firstly. A criterion is presented to determine the damage and its pattern of each element, and then the stiffness degradation method based on Murakami's geometric damage theory is used to simulate the status of damage under tensile loading steps for three kinds of unit cells. It can be seen that the damage percentage and damage pattern of damaged unit cell are totally different for different kind of unit cells. More damaged elements are observed for face cell and corner cell than that for body cell. It is also observed that the damage firstly occurs at the area of face cell, which agrees well with experimental results. It is verified that considering the effects of face and corner cells are important for the damage and strength analysis of 3D braided composites.展开更多
Postbuckling behavior of the 3D braided rectangular plates subjected to uniaxial compression combined with transverse loads in thermal environments is presented.Based on a micro-macro-mechanical model,a 3D braided com...Postbuckling behavior of the 3D braided rectangular plates subjected to uniaxial compression combined with transverse loads in thermal environments is presented.Based on a micro-macro-mechanical model,a 3D braided composite may be treated as a cell system and the geometry of each cell is deeply dependent on its position in the cross-section of the plate.The material properties of the epoxy are expressed as a linear function of temperature.Uniform,linear and nonlinear temperature distributions through the thickness are involved.The lateral pressure(three types of transverse loads,i.e.transverse uniform load;transverse patch load over a central area;and transverse sinusoidal load)is first converted into an initial deflection and the initial geometric imperfection of the plate is taken into account.The governing equations are based on Reddy’s higher-order shear deformation plate theory with a von Kármán-type of kinematic nonlinearity.Two cases of the in-plane boundary conditions are also taken into account.A perturbation technique is employed to determine buckling loads and postbuckling equilibrium paths of simply supported 3D braided rectangular plates.The results reveal that the temperature rise,geometric parameter,fiber volume fraction,braiding angle,the character of the in-plane boundary conditions and different types of initial transverse loads have a significant effect on the buckling and postbuckling behavior of the braided composite plates.展开更多
文摘As an advanced composite material, the 3D braided composite has received more and more attention in foreign countries. However, it has received less attention in China. The geometric unit cell which can describe the basic structure and the relationship between the braiding angle and geometric parameters of the fabric and fiber volume ratio are given in this paper based on two 3D braiding processes, namely, the four-step and the twostep ones. Several existing mechanical models to predict groperties of the 3D braided comPOsites are discussed and their shortcomings are pointed out herein. Then a new model called the inclined laminal combination model is proposed, which is based on the classical laminated plate theory and can predict the basic mechanical behavior of the two 3D braided composites with four-step or two-step braid. In the model, each yarn in the unit cell is regarded as an inclined laminate and then a 3D analysis is performed. It is found that the predicted mechanical properties of the 3D braided composites by the proposed model are compared well with the experimental data.
基金This research was funded by Scientific Research Fund of National Ministry of Education (00135)
文摘A comprehensive study of yarn architecture of two-step rectangle 3D braided composites is presented. Firstly, the braided surface, the shapes of yarns and the intertwining between braider yams and axial yams are analyzed from experimentation. With the microstructure being defined, three levels of unit cell structure are identified, i.e. large unit cell, second unit cell and minimal unit cell. Secondly, based on the minimal unit cell in the interior and on the boundary of the entire cross-section, the deformations of axial yams squashed by braider yams contribute to the increase of the fiber packing factors of axial yams. Finally, the predicted fiber volume fraction of the composites decreases with the increase of linear density of the braider yam and the pitch length. Favorable correlations between the predicted and the experimental results arc found for six groups of the composites.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.51875099)。
文摘Electrical-mechanical coupling behaviors and thermal-resistance effects of 3D braided composites under external loads are important for structural health monitoring(SHM). Electrical conductivity and electrical-mechanical coupling behaviors of 3D braided carbon fiber/epoxy composites under uniaxial tension were reported. It was found that the transverse resistance decreased and the axial resistance increased with the increasing braiding angle. The fractional change in resistance increased linearly as the strain was below 1.0%, and the nonlinearity appeared when the strain exceeded 1.0%. The negative temperature coefficient(NTC) effect was observed before the glass transition temperature Tg of epoxy resin, while there was a positive temperature coefficient(PTC) effect after Tg.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.51303131)
文摘Textile-reinforced composites,due to their excellent highstrength-to-low-mass ratio, provide promising alternatives to conventional structural materials in many high-tech sectors. 3D braided composites are a kind of advanced composites reinforced with 3D braided fabrics; the complex nature of 3D braided composites makes the evaluation of the quality of the product very difficult. In this investigation,a defect recognition platform for 3D braided composites evaluation was constructed based on dual-tree complex wavelet packet transform( DT-CWPT) and backpropagation( BP) neural networks. The defects in 3D braided composite materials were probed and detected by an ultrasonic sensing system. DT-CWPT method was used to analyze the ultrasonic scanning pulse signals,and the feature vectors of these signals were extracted into the BP neural networks as samples. The type of defects was identified and recognized with the characteristic ultrasonic wave spectra. The position of defects for the test samples can be determined at the same time. This method would have great potential to evaluate the quality of 3D braided composites.
文摘The effects of microstructure on quasi-static transverse loading behavior of 3D circular braided composite tubes were studied. Transverse loading tests were conducted. Transverse load-deflection curves were obtained to analyze the effects of braiding parameters including the braiding angle, the wall thickness, and the diameter on the transverse loading of 3D circular braided composite tubes. Breaking loads, moduli and strengths had also been used to describe the transverse loading behaviors. The failure morphologies were shown to reveal damage mechanisms. From the results, the increase in braiding angle, wall thickness and diameter increases the ability of anti-deformation and breaking load of braided tubes. The breaking load of specimen with a braiding angle of 45° is about 1.68 times that of specimen with a braiding angle of 15°. The breaking load of specimen with 4 layers of yarns is about 2.15 times that of specimen with 2 layers of yarns. The breaking load of the tube with a diameter of 25.5 mm is about 2.39 times that of the tube with a diameter of 20.5 mm.
基金Project supported by the Aeronautics Science Foundatioh of China (No.04B51045)the Common Construction Project of Education Committee of Beijing (No.XK10006052)
文摘Based on unit cell model, the 3D 4-directional braided composites can be simplified as unidirectional composites with different local axial coordinate system and the compliance matrix of unidirectional composites can be defined utilizing the bridge model. The total stiffness matrix of braided composites can be obtained by the volume average stiffness of unidirectional composites with different local axial coordinate system and the engineering elastic constants of braided composites were computed further. Based on the iso-strain assumption and the bridge model, the stress distribution of fiber bundle and matrix of different unidirectional composites can be determined and the tensile strength of 3D 4-directional braided composites was predicted by means of the Hoffman's failure criterion for the fiber bundle and Mises' failure criterion for the matrix.
基金Funded by the National Basic Research Program of Chinathe National Natural Science Foundation of China(51675266)+3 种基金the Aeronautical Science Foundation of China(2014ZB52024)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(NJ20160038)the Jiangsu Innovation Program for Graduate Education(CXLX13_165)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities
文摘The longitude tensile properties of 3-Dimension-4-directional(3D-4d) braided C/Si C composites(CMCs) were investigated with the help of a double scale model. This model involves micro-scale and unit-cell scale. In micro-scale, the tensile properties of fiber tows which involves matrix cracking, interfacial debonding, and fiber failure are studied. The unit-cell scale model can reflect the braided structure and simulate the tensile properties of 3D-4d CMCs by introducing the tensile properties of fiber tows into it. Quasi-static tensile tests of 3D-4d braided CMCs were performed on a PWS-100 test system. The predicted tensile stressstrain curve by the double scale model is in good agreement with that of the experimental results.
基金Funded by the National Basic Research Program of China,National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.51075204)Funding of Jiangsu Innovation Program for Graduate Education(No.CXLX13_165)+2 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,Aeronautical Science Foundation of China(No.2012ZB52026)Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China(No.20070287039)NUAA Research Funding(No.NZ2012106)
文摘Double-scale model for three-dimension-4 directional(3D-4d) braided C/SiC composites has been proposed to investigate its elastic properties. The double-scale model involves micro-scale that takes fiber/ matrix/porosity in fibers tows into consideration with unit cell which considers the 3D-4d braiding structure. Micro-optical photographs of composites have been taken to study the braided structure. Then a parameterized finite element model that reflects the structure of 3D-4d braided composites is proposed. Double-scale elastic modulus prediction model is developed to predict the elastic properties of 3D-4d braided C/SiC composites. Stiffness and eompliance-averaging method and energy method are adopted to predict the elastic properties of composites. Static-tension experiments have been conducted to investigate the elastic modulus of 3D-4d braided C/SiC composites. Finally, the effect of micro-porosity in fibers tows on the elastic modulus of 3D-4d braided C/SiC composites has been studied. According to the conclusion of this thesis, elastic modulus predicted by energy method and stiffness-averaging method both find good agreement with the experimental values, when taking the micro-porosity in fibers tows into consideration. Differences between the theoretical and experimental values become smaller.
基金Tianjin Natural Science Sustentation Fund Project,China(No.043600711)Ministry of Education Sustentation Fund Project,China(No.03008)
文摘Three-dimensional(3D)braided composites with better properties have been used in some particular industries.Some have had obvious signs of crack when they are braided.Others have had catastrophic failures occuring without warning.A new methodology for the analysis of failure modes in composite materials by means of acoustic emission techniques has been developed.The occurrence of fiber-breakage during tensile loading tests has been observed by the acoustic emission technology.Using acoustic emission technology is investigated as a means of monitoring 3D braided composites structures,detecting damage,and predicting impending damage.Some of the findings of the research project were presented.
文摘Three-dimensional(3 D)braided composites are a kind of advanced ones and are used in the aeronautical and astronautical fields more widely. The advantages, usages, shortages and disadvantages of 3D braided composites are analyzed, and the possible approach of improving the properties of the materials is presented, that is, a new type of 3D full 5-directional braided composites is developed. The methods of making this type of preform are proposed. It is pointed out that the four-step braiding which is the most possible to realize industrialized production almost has no effect on the composites' properties. By analyzing the simulation model,the advantages of the material compared with the 3D 4-directional and 5-directional materials are presented. Finally, a microstructural model is analyzed to lay the foundation for the future theoretical analysis of these composites.
基金supported in part by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51375308 and 51775346)
文摘The aim of this study is to investigate nonlinear bending for a 3-Dimensional(3D)braided composite cylindrical panel which has transverse loads on its finite length. By refining a micro-macro-mechanical model, the 3D braided composite can be treated as a representative average cell system. The geometric structural properties of its components deeply depend on their positions in the section of the cylindrical panel. The embedded elastic medium of the panel can be described by a Pasternak elastic foundation. Via using the shell theory of the von Ka′rma′nDonnell type of kinematic nonlinearity, governing equations can be established to get higherorder shear deformation. The mixed Galerkin-perturbation method is applied to get the nonlinear bending behavior of the 3D braided cylindrical panel with a simply supported boundary condition.Based on the analysis of the braided composite cylindrical panel with variable initial stress, geometric parameter, fiber volume fraction, and elastic foundation, serial numerical illustrations are archived to represent the appropriate nonlinear bending responses.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.50832004 and 50972120)the 111 Project(No.B08040)
文摘To effectively get the thermal expansion coef- ficient (CTE) of three-dimensional (3D) braided C/C composites and study the variations, a VC++ program with graphical user interfaces was obtained, based on the yam unit model and numerical analysis. With the limited basic properties of carbon fibers and carbon matrix, CTE of 3D braided C/C composites is obtained at 85 ~C. The deviation between the simulated and exl^erimental axial CTE of 3D braided C/C composites is no more than 11%. The effects of different parameters (including the braiding angle of 3D braided preform, the fiber volume fraction and the porosity of 3D braided C/C composites, and the elastic modulus, Poisson's ratio and CTEs of carbon fibers and carbon matrix) were analyzed with the program. The results show that the axial CTE of C/C composites decreases with the increase of the braiding angle, the fiber volume fraction, and the porosity of 3D braided C/C composites. The transverse elastic modulus of carbon fibers has the greatest effect on the axial CTE among the studied mechanical parameters, followed by the elastic modulus and Poisson's ratio of carbon matrix.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China (10772115)
文摘In order to study the failure patterns and strength of 3D braided composites from the microscopic view, the damage propagation under tensile loading steps in three kinds of unit cells is simulated. The homogenization formula of micro-stress and the solving approach of finite element method are given firstly. A criterion is presented to determine the damage and its pattern of each element, and then the stiffness degradation method based on Murakami's geometric damage theory is used to simulate the status of damage under tensile loading steps for three kinds of unit cells. It can be seen that the damage percentage and damage pattern of damaged unit cell are totally different for different kind of unit cells. More damaged elements are observed for face cell and corner cell than that for body cell. It is also observed that the damage firstly occurs at the area of face cell, which agrees well with experimental results. It is verified that considering the effects of face and corner cells are important for the damage and strength analysis of 3D braided composites.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.50909059,51279222)
文摘Postbuckling behavior of the 3D braided rectangular plates subjected to uniaxial compression combined with transverse loads in thermal environments is presented.Based on a micro-macro-mechanical model,a 3D braided composite may be treated as a cell system and the geometry of each cell is deeply dependent on its position in the cross-section of the plate.The material properties of the epoxy are expressed as a linear function of temperature.Uniform,linear and nonlinear temperature distributions through the thickness are involved.The lateral pressure(three types of transverse loads,i.e.transverse uniform load;transverse patch load over a central area;and transverse sinusoidal load)is first converted into an initial deflection and the initial geometric imperfection of the plate is taken into account.The governing equations are based on Reddy’s higher-order shear deformation plate theory with a von Kármán-type of kinematic nonlinearity.Two cases of the in-plane boundary conditions are also taken into account.A perturbation technique is employed to determine buckling loads and postbuckling equilibrium paths of simply supported 3D braided rectangular plates.The results reveal that the temperature rise,geometric parameter,fiber volume fraction,braiding angle,the character of the in-plane boundary conditions and different types of initial transverse loads have a significant effect on the buckling and postbuckling behavior of the braided composite plates.