Use of Non-Isothermal cure cycles for reducing cure induced deformation in laminated composites

Abstract

The aim of the present work is to demonstrate the effectiveness of non-isothermal (multi-ramp) cure cycles to reduce process induced deformation in laminated composites over the conventional isothermal cure cycles. For that purpose, a relationship between non-isothermal cure cycle parameters and the occurrence of two physical phenomena namely modulus development and cure shrinkage are first identified. Further, the influence of these phenomena on residual stresses/deformations through the competing mechanisms of thermal and cure shrinkage effects is demonstrated. Finally, optimal non-isothermal cure cycle parameters that minimize the process-induced deformations (∼10 %) are determined by using the process model and the NSGA-II genetic algorithm.