Predicting the Influence of Manufacturing Parameters on Curing Generated Deformations Using Thermo-mechanical Modelling

摘要

The present study is related to the prediction of residual stresses and associated cure-induced distortions that commonly occur during the manufacturing of fiber-reinforced thermosets. RTM-6 is used as the matrix material, as abundant literature datais available for both the cure kinetics and the mechanical response as function of different cure degrees. After the final shape has been virtually demolded from the component, it is compared to the as-designed shape, i.e. the surface of the mold. This allows to numerically investigate the effect that changing manufacturing and designparameters, such as applied thermal profile, lay-up, part thickness and shape, can have on the cure-induced deformations. To this end, the simulations will be compared toexperiments performed from the literature using C- and L- shaped parts.