Compaction of woven-fabric preforms in liquid composite molding processes: single-layer deformation

• Published in: Composites science and technology Vol. 59; no. 10; pp. 1519 - 1526
• Main Authors: Chen, Baoxing, Chou, Tsu-Wei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.08.1999; Elsevier
• Subjects: A. Fabrics/textiles; A. Textile composites; Applied sciences; C. Deformation; Compaction; E. Resin transfer molding (RTM); Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Laminates; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Technology of polymers; Compaction; C. Deformation; A. Fabrics/textiles; E. Resin transfer molding (RTM); A. Textile composites; Laminate; Mechanical model; Stress strain relation; Fiber reinforced material; Theoretical study; Polymer; Transfer molding; Modeling; Composite material; Thermosetting resin; Compressive stress; Three dimensional model; Concentration effect; Numerical simulation; Processing parameter; Woven material
• ISSN: 0266-3538; 1879-1050
• DOI: 10.1016/S0266-3538(99)00002-0

A theoretical study of elastic deformation during the compaction of woven-fabric preforms in liquid composite molding processes is presented in this paper. The analysis focuses on the unit cell of an orthogonal plain-weave fibrous preform, which is composed of two sets of mutually orthogonal yarns. A 3D model of the unit cell has been proposed with certain assumptions and been used to predict the compressive behavior of yarns. On the basis of this model and beam theory in the mechanics of materials, analytical expressions for relations among the fiber volume fraction, the applied compressive force and the preform thickness reduction have been established. A prediction of the limiting fiber volume fraction is also obtained. The results of this study also have significant implication in the understanding of preform permeability in liquid composite molding processes.