An Integrated Virtual Tool Chain for the Simulation of the Manufacturing Process of a Composite Tidal Blade

Abstract

Within the European research project ECOMISE advanced process simulation methods have been developed. Existing Software tools like RTMWorx and NX CAE have been extended in their capabilities and interface have been developed between them to have a direct data communication. In the present case a manufacturing process of a tidal blade was used to test and validate the development. In RTMWorx a new 3D solution was developed and an a import interface to read direct a structural model from NX with all related information’s like geometry, mesh and layup. The interface reads the ply information’s and calculates resulting permabilities for the layup. In NX CAE also interfaces and mapping algorithm have been developed to read information’s like filling factors from RTMWorx. In combination with the new functionalities to simulate curing, process induced deformation and residual stresses the virtual process chain enabling a complete analysis of the whole manufacturing process starting from a initial design with capabilities on draping including direct ply contour creation, infusion, curing and analysis of process induced deformation.