Cure-induced deformation prediction and tool surface design for V profile composite part

Cure kinetics model was used to simulate the cure process of 20 mm/3 mm thick composite plates. A peak on temperature curves was observed during the cure process of 20 mm plate. The temperature difference between interior and surface was less than 6℃, while for 3 mm plate, it kept the same with autoclave temperature and distributed uniformly. Cure-induced deformations of 60°/90° V profile specimens were simulated by applying simplified temperature field and equivalent coefficients of thermal expansion, and 6 V profile specimens (3 samples per type) were cured. The simulation spring-in angles of 60° and 90° specimens were 1.58° and 1.18° respectively which well agreed with the experiment (1.59° and 1.11°). Based on the simulation method, the surface of deformation-compensating tool for a composite skin was acquired. The application of the deformation-compensating tool increased the manufacturing accuracy greatly.