Structural performance of a shape-adaptive composite hydrofoil using automated fibre placement

• Published in: Engineering structures Vol. 183; pp. 351 - 365
• Main Authors: Maung, P., Prusty, B.G., White, J.M., David, M., Phillips, A.W., St John, N.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 15.03.2019; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Automated fibre placement (AFP); Automation; Carbon composites; Fabrication; Fiber placement; Hydrofoil manufacture; Hydrofoils; Modal analysis; Molds; Optimisation; Optimization; Resin transfer molding; Shape-adaptive structures; Structural testing; Tooling; Carbon composites; Structural testing; Hydrofoil manufacture; Shape-adaptive structures; Optimisation; Automated fibre placement (AFP)
• ISSN: 0141-0296; 1873-7323
• DOI: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2019.01.014

•Automated Fibre Placement based manufacture of complex composite structure and a thorough investigation.•Adaption of Optimisation techniques for a shape-adaptive carbon composite hydrofoil.•Structural performance prediction for static and dynamic cases and a useful comparison. This paper presents an investigation into structural performance of a shape adaptable composite hydrofoil which was manufactured using Automated Fibre Placement (AFP). The methodology and procedure developed for the complex manufacture using AFP is first described here. A mould originally designed for resin transfer moulding (RTM) was used as a tooling surface for AFP layup. An in-house developed optimisation process for tailored bend-twist behaviour was used to obtain the layup sequence and subsequent tool path creation for AFP fabrication of the hydrofoil. The AFP fabricated hydrofoil was experimentally tested for its structural response using a static cantilever experiment whereas for the dynamic behaviour experimental modal analysis (EMA) was used. Finally, a comparison was made between the structural responses of the optimised hydrofoils manufactured by AFP and using the traditional RTM process.