Numerical Analysis on the Cure-Induced Deformation of Fiber Composite Laminates

Abstract

During the cure process of fiber reinforced resin matrix composites, the residual stress and deformation can be generated. The cure-dependent elastic model, which is the earliest constructed and the simplified form of the viscoelastic model, is most universally applied to the finite element analysis on the cure-induced deformation. However, stress relaxation and creep are the unique properties of resin matrix composites, which can affect the residual stress and deformation in some degrees. In this study, both the elastic model and the viscoelastic model were used to predict the residual stress and deformation of fiber composite laminates by means of the finite element method, and then a comparison between them was made. The results show that the difference between them decreases with the increase of fiber volume fraction or the decrease of resin curing shrinkage.