Finite Element Analysis of Manufacturing Deformation in Polymer Matrix Composites

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Mechanical Engineering
• Computational Mechanics

Background:

• Polymer matrix composites (PMCs) are advanced materials with tunable properties.
• Accurate prediction of elastic response during manufacturing is crucial for PMC applications.
• Existing modeling techniques may not fully capture complex manufacturing stresses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and validate a unique finite element analysis (FEA) technique for predicting elastic response in PMCs.
• To model the manufacturing of 'L'-shaped PMC components under thermal loads and rigid fixtures.
• To assess the accuracy of the proposed FEA methodology against experimental data.

Main Methods:

• Development of a novel finite element analysis (FEA) technique.
• Modeling of 'L'-shaped components fabricated from SPRINT™ materials (GLP 43 and GLP 96) at 15 mm and 25 mm thicknesses.
• Comparison of simulation results from three FEA methodologies with experimental data.

Main Results:

• The proposed FEA technique accurately predicted the elastic response of PMCs.
• An error deviation of 3.23% was achieved when comparing simulation results to experimental data.
• The study demonstrated the impact of thermal loads and rigid fixtures on component response.

Conclusions:

• The developed FEA methodology is effective for predicting elastic response in PMCs.
• The technique provides a reliable tool for simulating PMC manufacturing processes.
• FEA offers a valuable approach for optimizing PMC component design and fabrication.