Three-dimensional finite element analysis for the temperature field of thermoset composites during cure process

Based on the thermal conduct theory and cure kinetics, the history of cure temperature and degree of cure was investigated for the orthotropic laminate during curing. The temperature and degree of cure were chosen as two additional degrees of nodes in FEM models, and the coupling of them was taken into account. The result shows that: for the thick laminate, the peak value of the temperature was increased, and the initiation of the crosslinking reaction at the center point was late; for the laminates with different fiber contents, the development of the degree of cure is synchronic at the early stage of the curing process, when the temperature is higher than that of the dwell (85°C), the lower the fiber content in the laminates, the higher the peak value of temperature at the center of the laminates, and its corresponding time is quicker.