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Relationships Between LRI Process Parameters and Impact and Post-Impact Behaviour of Stitched and Unstitched NCF Laminates

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Abstract

The general context of the development of out-of-autoclave processes in the aeronautics industry raises the question of the possible links between these new processes and impact behaviour. In this study, a Taguchi table was used in a design of experiment approach to establish possible links. The study focused on the liquid resin infusion process applied to laminates made with stitched or unstitched quadri-axial carbon Non-Crimp Fabric (NCF). On the basis of previous studies and an analysis of the literature, five process parameters were selected (stitching, curing temperature, preform position, number of highly porous media, vacuum level). The impact energy was set at 35 J in order to obtain enough residual dent depth. The parameters analysed during and after impact were: maximum displacement of the impactor, energy absorbed, permanent indentation depth, and delaminated surface. Then, compression after impact tests were performed and the corresponding average stress was measured. The interactions found by statistical analysis show a very high sensitivity to stitching, which was, of course, expected. A very significant influence of curing temperature and a significant influence of preform position were also found on the permanent indentation depth and a physical explanation is provided. Globally, it was demonstrated that the resin infusion process itself did not influence the impact behaviour.

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Abbreviations

C o :

Stitching process parameter

N HPM :

Number of High Porous Media (HPM) process parameter

C p :

Plate side process parameter

T c :

Curing temperature process parameter

V L :

Vacuum level process parameter

E a :

Energy absorbed during impact

E e :

Elastic energy

S d :

Delaminated surface

δmax :

Maximum displacement of the impactor

αp :

Residual dent depth

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ecole des Mines d’Albi (EMAC), Campus Jarlard, 81013, Albi cedex 09, France

    Alvine Njionhou & Florentin Berthet

  2. INSA, 135 Avenue de Rangueil, 31077, Toulouse Cedex, France

    Bruno Castanié

  3. ISAE, 10 Avenue Edouard Belin, 31055, Toulouse Cedex, France

    Christophe Bouvet

  4. Université de Toulouse, INSA, UPS, Mines d’Albi, ISAE, ICA (Institut Clément Ader), Toulouse, France

    Alvine Njionhou, Florentin Berthet, Bruno Castanié & Christophe Bouvet

Authors
  1. Alvine Njionhou
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  2. Florentin Berthet
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  3. Bruno Castanié
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  4. Christophe Bouvet
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Correspondence to Bruno Castanié.

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Njionhou, A., Berthet, F., Castanié, B. et al. Relationships Between LRI Process Parameters and Impact and Post-Impact Behaviour of Stitched and Unstitched NCF Laminates. Appl Compos Mater 19, 885–899 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10443-011-9241-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10443-011-9241-8

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