Draping of plain woven carbon fabrics over a double-curvature mold

This paper investigates the complex fiber reorientation and redistribution of plain woven carbon fabrics draping over a double-curvature mold through experimental and numerical approaches. Firstly, uni-axial tensile, bias-extension and picture-frame tests are carried out to obtain the material properties of the woven carbon fabrics. Material parameters for a previously developed simple anisotropic hyperelastic model are accordingly obtained. Secondly, draping experiments are implemented at room temperature using samples with different original fiber orientation. Deformed fabric boundary profiles and local shear angle variations are recorded and analyzed. The draping process is then simulated by using the anisotropic hyperelastic model taking into account material and geometric non-linearity. Very good agreement between simulation and experimental results is obtained. The ultimate goal of the investigation is to develop a design tool for the numerical simulation and processing optimization of woven composites forming. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.