Thermochemical and Mechanical Aspects of Composite Tape Laying

The overall objective of this investigation was to study the manufacture of organic matrix composites by the tape laying process. Specifically, the effects of the processing conditions on the quality of composite parts were investigated. Models were developed which relate the applied heating, applied pressure, tape laying speed, and mold material to the thermochemical and mechanical response of the material. On the basis of these models, computer codes were written to generate numerical results. With these computer codes, parametric studies were performed which indicated the influence of the various processing parameters on the temperature, degree of cure (for thermosetting matrix composites), crystallinity (for thermoplastic matrix composites), viscosity, and stresses inside the composite. From the numerical results, the processing conditions required for manufacturing good quality parts were identified.