Predicting Formation of Manufacturing Defects in Contoured Composites

2019 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillaume Seon ◽  
Yuri Nikishkov ◽  
Andrew Makeev ◽  
Lauren Fergusson

Composite helicopter rotor components are typically thick and often have areas with a tight radius of curvature, which make them especially prone to process-induced defects, including wrinkles and voids at ply interfaces. Such flaws cause high rejection rates in production of flight-critical components and structures. This work seeks to fill the gaps in understanding generation of the noted defects in contoured polymer–matrix composite laminates. In particular, understanding and modeling defect formation at the early stages of the manufacturing process might be the missing link to enable the development of practical engineering solutions allowing for better control of the manufacturing process of contoured composite parts. In this work, an approach based on a continuum description of the uncured prepreg material, including the initial bulk or void content, and finite element modeling (FEM) is used to simulate the consolidation process at the early stages of manufacturing of contoured laminates. The simulation predicts instabilities leading to formation of both wrinkles and voids at ply interfaces during laminate debulking or vacuum consolidation. Applicability of the method to consolidation in both closed-cavity and open-face tooling is also demonstrated. FEM results show good correlation with X-ray computed tomography data. This work also introduces a new simulation concept based on finite element and discrete modeling of voids at ply interfaces to improve the accuracy of predicting their evolution during the debulking operations.

Author(s):  
John Martin

The pilger process is a cold-worked mechanical process that combines the elements of extrusion, rolling, and upsetting for the formation of thin-walled tubes. This complex manufacturing process relies on the results of trial and error testing programs, experimental parameter sensitivity studies, and prototypical applications to advance the technology. This finite element modelling effort describes the methods, models, and assumptions used to assess the process parameters used to manufacture thin-walled tubing. The modelling technique breaks down the manufacturing process into smaller computer generated models representing fundamental process functions. Each of these models is linked with the overall process simulation. Simplified assumptions are identified and supporting justifications provided. This work represents proof of principle modelling techniques, using large deformation, large strain, finite element software. These modelling techniques can be extended to more extensive parameter studies evaluating the effects of pilger process parameter changes on final tube stress and strain states and their relationship to defect formation/propagation. Sensitivity studies on input variables and the process parameters associated with one pass of the pilger process are also included. The modelling techniques have been extended to parameter studies evaluating the effects of pilger process parameter changes on tube stress and strain states and their relationship to defect formation. Eventually a complex qualified 3-D model will provide more accurate results for process evaluation purposes. However, the trends and results reported are judged adequate for examining process trends and parameter variability.


2007 ◽  
Vol 539-543 ◽  
pp. 2651-2656 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.J. Huang ◽  
E. Ghassemieh

A 3-D coupled temperature-displacement finite element analysis is performed to study an ultrasonic consolidation process. Results show that ultrasonic wave is effective in causing deformation in aluminum foils. Ultrasonic vibration leads to an oscillating stress field. The oscillation of stress in substrate lags behind the ultrasonic vibration by about 0.1 cycle of ultrasonic wave. The upper foil, which is in contact with the substrate, has the most severe deformation. The substrate undergoes little deformation. Apparent material softening by ultrasonic wave, which is of great concern for decades, is successfully simulated. The higher the friction coefficient, the more obvious the apparent material softening effect.


Author(s):  
Jesse D. Peplinski ◽  
Janet K. Allen ◽  
Farrokh Mistree

Abstract How can the manufacturability of different product design alternatives be evaluated efficiently during the early stages of concept exploration? The benefits of such integrated product and manufacturing process design are widely recognized and include faster time to market, reduced development costs and production costs, and increased product quality. To reap these benefits fully, however, one must examine product/process trade-offs and cost/schedule/performance trade-offs in the early stages of design. Evaluating production cost and lead time requires detailed simulation or other analysis packages which 1) would be computationally expensive to run for every alternative, and 2) require detailed information that may or may not be available in these early design stages. Our approach is to generate response surfaces that serve as approximations to the analyses packages and use these approximations to identify robust regions of the design space for further exploration. In this paper we present a method for robust product and process exploration and illustrate this method using a simplified example of a machining center processing a single component. We close by discussing the implications of this work for manufacturing outsourcing, designing robust supplier chains, and ultimately designing the manufacturing enterprise itself.


Author(s):  
Graeme Roberts ◽  
T. Sriskandarajah ◽  
Gianluca Colonnelli ◽  
Arnaud Roux ◽  
Alan Roy ◽  
...  

A method of carrying out a combined axial walking and lateral buckling assessment for a flexible flowline has been developed using finite element analysis. The method overcomes limitations of screening assessments which could be inconclusive when applied either to a flexible flowline on an undulating seabed with transverse gradients or to one that buckles during hydrotest. Flexible flowlines that were to be surface-laid on a seabed with longitudinal undulations and transverse gradients were assessed using the method. The flexible flowlines were simulated in their as-laid state, and the simulation incorporated hydrotest pressure and the pressure & temperature gradients and transients associated with multiple start-ups. The objective was to quantify the axial walking and lateral slip tendency of the flexible flowlines and the impact that walking might have on the connected end structures. The lateral buckle locations predicted by finite element analysis were compared to a post-hydrotest survey and the radius of curvature from analysis was compared to the minimum bend radius of the flexible.


Materials ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 2506 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao Liu ◽  
Yaoyao Shi

Dimensional control can be a major concern in the processing of composite structures. Compared to numerical models based on finite element methods, the analytical method can provide a faster prediction of process-induced residual stresses and deformations with a certain level of accuracy. It can explain the underlying mechanisms. In this paper, an improved analytical solution is proposed to consider thermo-viscoelastic effects on residual stresses and deformations of flat composite laminates during curing. First, an incremental differential equation is derived to describe the viscoelastic behavior of composite materials during curing. Afterward, the analytical solution is developed to solve the differential equation by assuming the solution at the current time, which is a linear combination of the corresponding Laplace equation solutions of all time. Moreover, the analytical solution is extended to investigate cure behavior of multilayer composite laminates during manufacturing. Good agreement between the analytical solution results and the experimental and finite element analysis (FEA) results validates the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed method. Furthermore, the mechanism generating residual stresses and deformations for unsymmetrical composite laminates is investigated based on the proposed analytical solution.


2012 ◽  
Vol 500 ◽  
pp. 146-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ning Hou ◽  
Li Zhou ◽  
Shu Tao Huang ◽  
Li Fu Xu

In this paper, a finite element method was used to dynamically simulate the process of the edge defects formation during orthogonal cutting SiCp/Al composites. The influence of the cutting speed, cutting depth and rake angle of the PCD insert on the size of the edge defects have been investigated by using scanning electron. According to the simulated results, it can be provided that the cutting layer material has an effect on transfer stress and hinder the chip formation in the critical transition stage, and the critical transition point and distance are defined in this stage. The negative shear phenomenon is found when the chip transit to the edge defects in the flexure deformation stage, so the process of the chip formation is the basis of the edge defects formation. In addition, the relationship between the nucleation and propagation direction of the crack and the variation of the edge defect shape on the workpiece was investigated by theory, and it found that the negative shear angle formation is the primary cause of the edge defect formation. A mixed mode crack is found in the crack propagation stage. The sizes of edge defects were measured by the experiment and simulation, and the edge defect size decrease with the increasing of tool rake angle, while increase with increasing cutting depth and cutting speed.


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