Recent developments in manufacturing, mechanics, and design optimization of variable stiffness composites

Abstract

The functional advantages of tailored stiffness, often seen in nature, are also utilized in composite structures. Advancements in the multiaxis tow placement and automated fiber placement (AFP) machines led to the development of variable angle tow (VAT) composites, also referred further as variable stiffness composites (VSC). These composites are shown to effectively enhance the stress distribution and buckling load capacity of structures with greater flexibility on the design space. This review systematically presents the status of recent research on the topic of VSCs. Various manufacturing techniques of VSC are discussed; constraints and the defects associated with the manufacturing processes are enlisted. The review highlights the optimization studies based on the fiber profile and macro-scale stiffness invariants. Several studies existing in the domain of buckling, vibration, and aeroelastic tailoring of angle tow composites are summarized to connect the important aspects of analysis and present a holistic approach for future studies in this area.

Analysis of Laminated Composite Plates: A Comprehensive Bibliometric Review

“…By adjusting stiffness properties in real-time or in response to changing environmental factors, these materials can optimize structural performance and mitigate damage under varying operational conditions. This adaptability is particularly advantageous in applications such as aerospace, automotive manufacturing, marine engineering, and mechanics where structures are subjected to complex loading environments [28]. Additionally, variable stiffness composites facilitate improved damage tolerance and durability.…”

Buckling and post-buckling of variable stiffness plates with cutouts by a single-domain Ritz method

“…The availability of advanced manufacturing technologies [1], such as Automated Fiber Placement, Continuous Tow Sharing, Automated Tape Layup, 3D Printing, enables the efficient construction of variable stiffness composite structures [2]. In aerospace, automotive and naval fields this open towards new optimized design of lightweight components with high structural performances especially with regard to their dynamic, buckling and post-buckling behaviour that can be meaningfully enhanced [3,4].…”

Optimization of plates reinforced with different initial slope and variable number of carbon fibers

“…In this way, other methods were being developed, such as Continuous Tow Sharing (CTS), Additive Manufacturing (AM) and Tailored Fiber Placement (TFP). These methods severely reduced fabrication limitations, allowing the design of more complex structures with high reliability, reproducibility and low raw material waste (Punera and Mukherjee, 2022). So, the parts manufactured by these techniques and implementing variable reinforcements formed a class called Variable Stiffness Composites (VSC), which have different stiffness along the structures.…”