Simulation of Thermoplastic Composite Forming using Shells with Pinching Elements

摘要

Forming at high temperature composites with continuous fibers and thermoplasticrnmatrix permits to obtain structures with high mechanical properties in a single andrnfast manufacturing operation. An experimental study is presented that shows thatrnporosities appears at the beginning of the process and that the re-compaction stage isrnvery important in order to obtain a final state without defects. In order to simulaternthe forming process including the compaction, a shell with pinching element isrndeveloped. This element permits to account for the through the thickness loads andrnstresses that are essential for the consolidation of the material. It is shown that thernformulation of the element can lead to a locking and how it can be avoid.