Tensile behaviors of pre-twisted composite strands

In this paper, we address the tensile behaviors of pre-twisted composite strands, which consists of a pre-twisted single core filament surrounded by n-helical side filaments. Based on the extensible rod with zero bending and small twisting moduli for the core filament and inextensible rod for the side filaments, we develop the analytical method of the tensile behaviors of pre-twisted composite strands. Using a numerical continuation scheme, we elucidate the effects of microscopic factors such as initial helical angle, pre-twist of core filament, ratio of elastic modulus of core to that of side filament, and the number of the side filaments on the macroscopic tensile behavior of the strand as a whole structure. As a result, we show that the behavior is not trivial, even though the filament is a linear elastic due to the interplay of both geometrical constraint and finite deformation of the strand.