Energy Analysis of Reinforcement Deformations during Viscous Textile Composite Forming

Abstract

A lot of work on reinforcement deformation mechanisms during composites forming has been performed over the past decades. This paper demonstrates the relative importance of bending behaviour during composites forming, by showing algorithms to calculate bending and shear energies. Bending energy is estimated from a bending energy surface, a function of the displacement and rate, plotted using experimental measurements obtained by means of a large‐displacement buckling test at a variety of displacement rates. Shear energy is predicted from a shear energy surface, a function of shear angle and rate, plotted using experimental measurements from a Picture Frame test. Conclusions provide a comprehensive understanding of forming mechanisms of viscous composites and suggest the need for development of a theoretical bending model.