Cure-induced deformation of 3D woven composite curved plate

Abstract

A finite element prediction model for the residual stress and cure-induced deformation of composite curved plate considering the influence of non-uniform temperature field was established, the RTM forming process of 3D woven composite curved plate was simulated and the distribution and change of temperature, degree of cure and internal stress of the curved plate was analyzed. The results show that the curved plate forms a non-uniform temperature and internal stress field during the curing process. The uniformity of the temperature field has a significant influence on the deformation of the curved plate. If the influence of non-uniform temperature field is not considered, the error will be increased by 10%-15%. The 3D woven composite curved plate was manufactured by RTM process, and the temperature of the curved plate during the process was monitored by thermocouple, and the cure-induced deformation of the curved plate was measured by an industrial optical scanner. The predicted results are in good agreement with the experimental results, which verifies the accuracy of the established numerical model. The effects of curing temperature and thickness on curing deformation were also analyzed.

Keywords

• 3d woven composite curved plate
• non-uniform temperature field
• residual stress
• cure-induced deformation
• numerical simulation