The use of kinematic drape modelling to inform the hand lay-up of complex composite components using woven reinforcements

This paper will review the use of woven reinforcements in advanced composites and consider how such materials are conventionally used in the process of hand lay-up. The methods for kinematic modelling of the woven reinforcements will also be considered and the match between the information provided by kinematic modelling and that required to instruct the manufacture of complex shaped components will be investigated. It will be shown that the conventional outputs of kinematic modelling are of limited applicability in informing the hand lay-up process for complex surfaces, but that alternative ways of displaying the outputs can be of substantial value. In particular, a novel strategy for generating detailed unambiguous manufacturing instructions will be introduced as a method for enhancing the practicality of kinematic simulation tools. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.