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.
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 language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Proc. 19th Int. Conf. on Composite Materials, Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Pages | 4397-4409 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Publication status | Published - 24 Jul 2013 |