Influence of Tow Architecture on Compaction and Nesting in Textile Preforms
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Influence of Tow Architecture on Compaction and Nesting in Textile Preforms Z. Yousaf 1 & P. Potluri 1 & P. J. Withers 2
Received: 21 September 2016 / Accepted: 26 October 2016 # The Author(s) 2016. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com
Abstract Transverse compression response of tows during processes such as vacuum infusion or autoclave curing has significant influence on resin permeability in fabrics as well as the laminate thickness, fibre volume fraction and tow orientations in the finished composite. This paper reports macro –scale deformations in dry fibre assemblies due to transverse compaction. In this study, influence of weave geometry and the presence of interlacements or stitches on the ply-level compaction as well as nesting have been investigated. 2D woven fabrics with a variety of interlacement patterns - plain, twill and sateen- as well as stitched Non-crimp (NCF) fabrics have been investigated for macro-level deformations. Compression response of single layer and multilayer stacks has been studied as a function of external pressure in order to establish nesting behaviour. It appears that the degree of individual ply compaction and degree of nesting between the plies are influenced by tow architectures. Inter-tow spacing and stitching thread thickness appears to influence the degree of nesting in non-crimp fabrics. Keywords Compaction . Weave architecture . Glass fibre reinforced composites . Nesting . Noncrimp fabrics
1 Introduction Low-cost composite manufacturing techniques based on resin infusion of dry textile preforms are becoming increasingly popular in the aerospace, automotive and energy sectors. In these processes, several fabric plies are draped on the tool surface and subjected to transverse compaction forces either by vacuum (Vacuum Infusion) or
* Z. Yousaf [email protected]
1
Robotics and Textile Composite Group, Northwest Composite Centre, School of Materials, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
2
Manchester X-ray Imaging Facility, School of Materials, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
Appl Compos Mater
external pressure (as in resin transfer moulding), and at the same time infused with liquid resin. Compaction of the preform changes the thickness and thereby the ultimate fibre volume fraction of the composite laminate. Preform compaction also changes the tow waviness, which in turn influences the mechanical properties of the composite [1]. Furthermore, the compaction of the preform affects its permeability to resin flow [2]. During autoclave curing, significantly higher pressures (around 7 bar) are applied resulting in a reduction in thickness and a corresponding increase in fibre volume fraction. As a result it is important to characterise the compaction behaviour during the composite manufacturing process [3]. Extensive research work has been reported in the literature on the compaction behaviour of different fabrics [4–15]. Van Wyk [16] was probably one of the first researchers to treat the fibres under co
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