Textile composite structural analysis taking into account the forming process

Abstract

Abstract The manufacturing processes of composite materials modify the internal structure and therefore the mechanical properties of cured composite parts. In particular, draping of woven prepregs leads to angle changes between warp and weft yarns when the geometry of the part is double curved. We here propose to take the fiber reorientation caused by forming into account in the structural analysis of a cured composite. For this purpose, the simulation for the forming of prepregs was based on a rate constitutive equation. Then, a simple orthotropic elastic model of the cured composite was developed to take into account the angle change created by the forming. An experimental validation of this approach was performed in the case of traction on a cured test specimen after a bias extension test. Structural analyses of 3D composite parts obtained by draping also showed that it was necessary to take into account the reorientation of the fibers.