Abstract
Computer simulation is today a mature and essential part of many design practices that has led to improved designs and reduced development times and costs. So far most applications have concerned metal parts and processes with only a limited number of works investigating composite materials. This situation, particularly for industries now dependant on a simulation based design, will have to change if composites are to be seriously considered as a substitute for metals. This paper presents an overview of simulation applied to specific composites problems including sheet forming, 3D-braiding and impact. This work represents nearly a decade of research and development in various national and European projects. It is shown that significant progress has been made and that these complex problems can now be tackled by using state-of-the-art commercial software.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
The PAM-SOLID Code, Engineering Systems International, 20 Rue Saarinen, Silic 270, 94578 Rungis-Cedex, France.
Cook, R. D., Malkus, D. S., and Plesha, M. E., Concepts and Applications of Finite Element Analysis, Wiley, 1989.
Pickett, A. K. and Ulrich, D., 'Twenty Years Simulation at ESI GmbH, Germany: A Review and Outlook', 10th Asia-Users Conference, PUCA'99, Shin-Yokohama, Japan, November 1999.
Johnson, A. F. and Costalas, E., 'Forming Models for Fabric Reinforced Thermoplastics', in Proc. Int. Conference on Automated Composites, Nottingham, England, Sept. 1995.
Brite-Euram Project No. BE-5092, Industrial Press Forming of Continuous Fibre Reinforced Thermoplastic Sheets and the Development of Numerical Simulation Tools, 1992-1996.
Lee, W. I. and Springer, G. S., 'AModel of the Manufacturing Process of Thermoplastic Matrix Composites', Journal of Composite Materials 21, 1987, 1017.
Pickett, A. K. et al., 'Numerical Techniques for the Pre-heating and Forming Simulation of Continuous Fibre Reinforced Thermoplastics', SAMPE'96, Basel, 1996.
Brandt, J., Pickett, A. K., Schneider, M. et al., Rechnergesstütze, Automatisierte Herstellung von 3D-Geflechten fur Faserverbundbauteile (Computer Supported Automated Manufacture of 3D-Braided Composites), BMBF project No 03N3036, 1997-2001.
Pickett, A. K., Schneider, M., and Wulfhorst, B., 'Design and Manufacture of 3D-braided Textiles as a Reinforcement for Composites', EUROMAT Symposium, Munich, 27-30 Sept. 1999.
HICAS: High Velocity Impact of Composite Aircraft Structures, BRITE-EURAM Project BE 96-4238, 1998.
Ladeveze, P. and LeDantec, E., 'Damage Modelling of the Elementary Ply for Laminated Composites', Composites Science and Technology 43, 1992, 257-267.
Johnson, A. F. and Pickett, A. K., 'Impact and Crash Modelling of Composite Structures: A Challenge for Damage Mechanics', ECCM'99, Munich, 31 Aug.-3 Sept. 1999.
Reeder, J. R. and Crews, J. H., 'Mixed-mode Bending Method for Delamination Testing', AIAA Journal 28(7), 1989, 1270-1276.
Gingold, R. A. and Monaghan, J. J., 'Kernel Estimates as a Basis for General Particle Methods in Hydrodynamics', Journal of Computational Physics 46, 1982, 429-453.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pickett, A.K. Review of Finite Element Simulation Methods Applied to Manufacturing and Failure Prediction in Composites Structures. Applied Composite Materials 9, 43–58 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1012667427575
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1012667427575