On prepreg properties and manufacturability

L. D. Bloom, M. Elkington, C. Ward, A. Chatzimichali, K. Potter

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

13 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

This study considers the effect of prepreg properties on the manual layup process. Commercial prepregs were characterised in terms of shear behaviour, tack and flexural rigidity. The materials were then laid up by professional laminators on a series of increasingly challenging moulds, and the time taken to lay up each material was used as a metric of layup performance. It was found that there is a positive correlation between shear angle and layup time. Considerable differences (up to a factor of 2) in time taken to lay up different materials were also seen. The measured properties were used as predictors in a linear model to determine layup time, where it was found that shear energy and tack are significant. Lastly, some implications for the design and manufacture of composite components are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages4397-4409
Number of pages13
Publication statusPublished - 2013
Event19th International Conference on Composite Materials, ICCM 2013 - Montreal, Canada
Duration: 28 Jul 20132 Aug 2013

Conference

Conference19th International Conference on Composite Materials, ICCM 2013
Country/TerritoryCanada
CityMontreal
Period28/07/132/08/13

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council through the ACCIS Doctoral Training Centre and the EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Composites (CIMComp) [grant numbers: EP0G 67721 and EPI3O 35131,/ respectively]

Funding

This work was supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council through the ACCIS Doctoral Training Centre and the EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Composites (CIMComp) [grant numbers: EP0G 67721 and EPI3O 35131,/ respectively]

Keywords

  • Design for manufacture
  • Drapability
  • Forming
  • Hand layup
  • Tack

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Engineering
  • Ceramics and Composites

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