Discrete path planning of carbon fiber patch placement with complex surface

• Published in: Textile research journal Vol. 93; no. 17-18; pp. 4010 - 4022
• Main Authors: Zhang, Xiaowei, Chi, Xinfu, Ji, Chengchang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.09.2023; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Carbon; Carbon fibers; Curvature; Design optimization; Fiber placement; Finite element method; Helmets; Optimization; Path planning; Preforming; Preforms; Protective equipment; Stiffness; patch; path planning; placement; surface subdivision; Carbon fiber
• ISSN: 0040-5175; 1746-7748
• DOI: 10.1177/00405175231169045

At present, carbon fiber automatic placement technology is mainly applicable to the preform of large and complex components, while the preform of small size and large curvature carbon fiber components mainly relies on manual placement, which has the problems of high labor cost, slow speed, and low repeatability. In order to realize the automatic placement of carbon fiber components with large curvature and small size, this article adopts the carbon fiber patch placement method to make the preforms. By combining the surface subdivision method and the finite element optimization method of carbon fiber patch placement angle, a discrete path planning method of robotic carbon fiber patch is proposed. This method divides the complex surface into surface fragments with similar curvature and normal angle, which can effectively reduce the wrinkles in the process of carbon fiber patch placement and improve the utilization of carbon fiber patch. At the same time, the stiffness optimization design of carbon fiber patch composite preforming is realized by combining the finite element optimization method of placement angle. The helmet surface was selected as the research object of carbon fiber placement path planning, and the path planning of helmet surface placement was carried out, and the simulation tests of helmet placement in different regions and overall placement were compared. It was found that the stiffness of carbon fiber patches placed in different regions of the helmet surface was better than that of the overall placement.