Influence of Fiber Packing on the Deformation and Damage Development in Fiber Reinforced Laminates during Curing

Abstract

The influence of fiber packing on the deformation and damage evolution, during the process of manufacturing and subsequently, in fiber reinforced composites is investigated by considering a cluster of fibers within a matrix that is undergoing curing and subsequently subjected to mechanical loads. The residual stress development due to cure shrinkage and polymerization of the matrix, during the curing process, is modeled using the finite element (FE) framework. The model is based on the notion of polymer networks that are continuously formed in a body of changing shape due to changes in temperature, chemistry and external loads. Nonlinear material behavior due to post-damage response that can lead to cracking in the matrix is incorporated through a crack band model that preserves mesh objectivity in the FE calculations. The combined thermo-chemo-mechanical response of the composite due to curing and subsequent mechanical loading is investigated in detail in this paper.