Micro-CT measurement of fibre misalignment: Application to carbon/epoxy laminates manufactured in autoclave and by vacuum assisted resin transfer moulding. (January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nguyen, Nghi Q.; Mehdikhani, Mahoor; Straumit, Ilya; Gorbatikh, Larissa; Lessard, Larry; Lomov, Stepan V.
• Is Part Of: Composites. Volume 104(2018)
• Page Start: 14
• Page End: 23
• Publication Date: 2018-01
• Subjects: Misalignment -- E. Automated fibre placement (AFP) -- D. CT analysis -- B. Directional orientation; Composite materials -- Periodicals; Manufacturing processes -- Periodicals; Composite materials; Manufacturing processes; Periodicals; 620.11805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesa.2017.10.018
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-835X

Abstract

Abstract: This paper proposes a methodology for measurement of fibre misalignment in composite laminates based on the structure tensor of fibre orientations extracted from X-ray micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) images. The methodology is applied to carbon fibre/epoxy composites manufactured with two technologies: (1) by prepregging and consolidation in an autoclave and (2) by vacuum assisted resin transfer moulding. The results show that the in-plane inter-ply misalignment of fibres in the prepreg laminate and in the infusion-produced laminate is within 2–4° and 1–2°, respectively. The misalignment results allow better understanding of the manufacturing typical fibre orientation precision level for the low pressure (vacuum assisted resin transfer moulding) and high pressure (autoclave) manufacturing.