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Numerical simulation of two‐dimensional flow and compaction during the consolidation of laminated composites
Author(s) -
Li Min,
Li Yanxia,
Zhang Zuoguang,
Gu Yizhuo
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
polymer composites
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.577
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1548-0569
pISSN - 0272-8397
DOI - 10.1002/pc.20444
Subject(s) - materials science , composite material , thermosetting polymer , composite laminates , compaction , consolidation (business) , biot number , finite element method , composite number , volume fraction , computer simulation , structural engineering , mechanics , physics , accounting , engineering , business
A new special finite element formulation and code are developed to simulate the two‐dimensional flow and compaction process during the autoclave processing of complex fiber‐reinforced thermosetting composite laminates. The numerical model is based on the Biot's consolidation principle, the fluid continuity equation, and Darcy's law. The simulation is performed for Hercules AS4/3501‐6 laminates and the predicted results are in good agreement with the results available in the literature. The laminate thickness and fiber volume fraction distribution of cured laminates are investigated from both the experiments and the simulations for T700S/5228 laminates. The simulations and experimental results are in good agreement for all the studied cases. A significantly uneven degree of consolidation along the laminate thickness direction is observed, and it is necessary to optimize the cure cycle to get uniformly compact and good quality laminates. POLYM. COMPOS., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers