ANSYS, Inc.
Methods and systems for manufacturing products/parts made of carbon fiber reinforced composite based on numerical simulations

Abstract:

First FEA mesh model representing 3-D geometry of a carbon fiber reinforced composite (CFRC) product/part, pre-forming fiber orientation and desired reference fiber direction at a particular location on the product/part are received. First FEA mesh model contains finite elements associated with respective material properties for carbon fibers and binding matrix. Pre-forming fiber orientation includes number of fibers and relative angles amongst the fibers. Pre-forming 2-D shape of a workpiece used for manufacturing the product/part is obtained by conducting a one-step inverse numerical simulation that numerically expands the first to a second FEA mesh model based on numerically-calculated structural behaviors according to respective material properties. Pre-forming fiber orientation is superimposed on the second FEA mesh model with the desired reference fiber direction being preserved. Relative angles amongst all of the fibers on the product/part are determined by correlating the superimposed fiber orientation of the second to the first FEA mesh model.