The composite curing deformation prediction with the account of mold factors

Abstract

In this paper, the effect of interaction on the curing deformation of resin matrix composite materials were investigated through introducing a shear layer to identify the interaction between the mold and the component, and a numerical calculation model was established between the parameter and the maximum deformation. Then, the experimental data in the existing literature was compared with numerical calculation model data to verify the accuracy of the calculation model. The results of numerical model proved that the curing deformation does not have a direct relationship to the shear modulus and the thickness of the shear layer, but only to the ratio of the shear modulus to the thickness. The experimental results show that the calculation model hardly changes with the transformation of the length of the components, but varies with the ply of the laminates. When comparing the curing deformation obtained by calculation model with the deformation measured by experiment, it can be concluded that the model can predict the curing deformation of composite laminates with different length and thickness. Taking the practical significance into consideration, the introducing of ratio parameter can reflect the influence of the mold on the curing deformation of the components more concise. The numerical model between the parameters and the maximum deformation is established based on the shear layer, which can predict the curing deformation of the laminates with different lengths and thicknesses more accurately.