A Study on Process-Induced Warpage of Curing Mold of Composite Structures

Abstract

Framed curing mold is subjected to an uneven thermal load, gravity force and the pressures from composite parts and auxiliary tools during autoclave processing of thermosetting composite structures. And those loads induce the warpage of framed-mold. The warpage of framed-mold during autoclave processing influences dimensional precision of composite parts. In the present work, a three-dimensional finite element model for prediction of the warpage of framed-mold during autoclave processing has been developed. This model solved the coupling problem between the deformation and the temperature distribution of framed-mold and allows analysis of all major identified deformation influencing factors. And numerical predictions compare quite well with experimental measurements. A parametric study was performed using FEM program to examine the effect of varying the thickness of framed-mold, the shape and the dimension of mold vents.