Spatial Evolution of the Thickness Variations over a CFRP Laminated Structure

Yves Davila (1) , Laurent Crouzeix (1) , Bernard Douchin (1) , Francis Collombet (1) , Yves-Henri Grunevald (2)

1 ICA - Institut Clément Ader
2 SARL C.E.S. - Composites-Expertises-Solutions

Ply thickness is one of the main drivers of the structural performance of a composite part. For stress analysis calculations (e.g., finite element analysis), composite plies are commonly considered to have a constant thickness compared to the reality (coefficients of variation up to 9% of the mean ply thickness). Unless this variability is taken into account reliable property predictions cannot be made. A modelling approach of such variations is proposed using parameters obtained from a 16-ply quasi-isotropic CFRP plate cured in an autoclave. A discrete Fourier transform algorithm is used to analyse the frequency response of the observed ply and plate thickness profiles. The model inputs, obtained by a mathematical representation of the ply thickness profiles, permit the generation of a representative stratification considering the spatial continuity of the thickness variations that are in good agreement with the real ply profiles spread over the composite part. A residual deformation FE model of the composite plate is used to illustrate the feasibility of the approach.

Mots clés: Finite element analysis (FEA); Variability; Composite structure; Thickness; Discrete Fourier transform; Autoclave; Unidirectional prepreg Davila

Domaines: Matériaux et structures en mécanique [physics.class-ph]; Traitement du signal et de l'image [eess.SP]

Yves Davila, Laurent Crouzeix, Bernard Douchin, Francis Collombet, Yves-Henri Grunevald. Spatial Evolution of the Thickness Variations over a CFRP Laminated Structure. Applied Composite Materials, 2017, 24 (5), pp.1201 - 1215. ⟨10.1007/s10443-016-9573-5⟩. ⟨hal-01841955⟩