Abstract
A novel generation of manufactured composite materials is under development which takes inspiration
from the hierarchical architectures which characterise natural composite materials such as bone, wood,
and shell. This report describes results from ongoing research within a wider programme of enquiry
aimed at significantly improving the compressive performance of components formed from fibre
reinforced composite materials through employment of such biomimetic systems.
Automated lay-up techniques, and particularly the collaborative human / robotic potential offered by
cobotic systems, have been identified as offering the potential benefits of highly efficient material
deposition within a safe manufacturing environment. The novel processing method and tooling
developed to manufacture a simple hierarchically structured composite laminate is outlined, along with
current work aimed at developing processes for the creation of more complex hierarchical systems in
the future.
The last section of the report presents results attained from the compressive testing of a sample laminate
manufactured using the processing methods described. The samples tested displayed an initial linear
response to loading, however the ultimate compressive failure mode could not be determined due to
movement of the samples. Potential refinements of the method are considered based on images
generated during testing
from the hierarchical architectures which characterise natural composite materials such as bone, wood,
and shell. This report describes results from ongoing research within a wider programme of enquiry
aimed at significantly improving the compressive performance of components formed from fibre
reinforced composite materials through employment of such biomimetic systems.
Automated lay-up techniques, and particularly the collaborative human / robotic potential offered by
cobotic systems, have been identified as offering the potential benefits of highly efficient material
deposition within a safe manufacturing environment. The novel processing method and tooling
developed to manufacture a simple hierarchically structured composite laminate is outlined, along with
current work aimed at developing processes for the creation of more complex hierarchical systems in
the future.
The last section of the report presents results attained from the compressive testing of a sample laminate
manufactured using the processing methods described. The samples tested displayed an initial linear
response to loading, however the ultimate compressive failure mode could not be determined due to
movement of the samples. Potential refinements of the method are considered based on images
generated during testing
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Proceedings of the 21st European Conference on Composite Materials |
| Place of Publication | Nantes, France |
| Publisher | The European Society for Composite Materials (ESCM) and the Ecole Centrale de Nantes |
| Chapter | Vol 8 - Special Sessions |
| Pages | 1061 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Volume | 8 |
| Edition | 1 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 978-2-912985-01-9, Prof. Christophe Binetruy, Prof. Frederic Jacquemin |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2024 |