Accurate predictions of orientation dependent modulus in short‐fiber‐reinforced composite with experimental validation

Abstract

Predictions of fiber orientation dependent mechanical properties are extremely important in the automotive industry for injection molded fiber‐reinforced thermoplastic composites. Prior studies on three‐dimensional (3D) numerical computations have not had satisfactory results in the searches for significant deviation in the core region and skin boundary of a fiber orientation pattern, although the orientation in the shell layer was predicted fairly well. To perform the connection between fiber orientation and the mechanical properties in a familiar short‐fiber composite, therefore they aim for accurate predictions of the anisotropic fiber orientation at various flow factors in a reliable, 3D injection molding simulation within a new objective fiber orientation model. Comparisons of the predictive fiber orientation and tensile modulus with related experimental data were also made herein, as well as including variation in the modulus along the flow distance from the gate. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:2847–2859, 2018. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers