A probabilistic virtual process chain to quantify process-induced uncertainties in Sheet Molding Compounds. (15th January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Meyer, Nils; Gajek, Sebastian; Görthofer, Johannes; Hrymak, Andrew; Kärger, Luise; Henning, Frank; Schneider, Matti; Böhlke, Thomas
• Is Part Of: Composites. Number 249(2022)
• Publication Date: 2023-01-15
• Subjects: C. Micro-mechanics -- C. Numerical analysis -- C. Statistical properties -- E. Compression molding -- Virtual process chain; Composite materials -- Periodicals; Materials science -- Periodicals; Composite materials; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 620.118
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2022.110380
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-8368

Abstract

Abstract: The manufacturing process of Sheet Molding Compound (SMC) influences the properties of a component in a non-deterministic fashion. To predict this influence on the mechanical performance, we develop a virtual process chain acting as a digital twin for SMC specimens from compounding to failure. More specifically, we inform a structural simulation with individual fields for orientation and volume fraction computed from a direct bundle simulation of the manufacturing process. The structural simulation employs an interpolated direct deep material network to upscale a tailored SMC damage model. We evaluate hundreds of virtual specimens and conduct a probabilistic analysis of the mechanical performance. We estimate the contribution to uncertainty originating from the process-induced inherent random microstructure and from varying initial SMC stack configurations. Our predicted results are in good agreement with experimental tensile tests and thermogravimetric analysis. Graphical abstract: