Tool-part interaction in composites processing. Part II: numerical modelling

When modelling deformations induced during the manufacture of composite components it is important to account for the effect which tool-part interaction has on final part shape. In the current work an existing numerical code was used to simulate the effect of tool-part interaction. A parametric study examining the effects of various model inputs on final part shape was performed and the results were compared to those of a companion experimental study. The results show that the both the tool-part interfacial shear stress distribution and the part in-plane stress distribution are critical for accurate modelling of this phenomenon. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.