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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/L66014/01
Title: FIBRE ARCHITECTURE INFLUENCES ON ADVANCED COMPOSITES PROCESSING
Principal Investigator: Long, Professor A
Other Investigators:
Rudd, Professor CD
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Brookhouse Patterns Ltd Ford Motor Co Pre Nexus Migration
Department: Sch of Mech Materials Manuf Eng Mgt
Organisation: University of Nottingham
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 August 1997 Ends: 31 October 2000 Value (£): 333,795
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Manufacturing Machine & Plant Materials Processing
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Manufacturing
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
In recent years a number of process simulation tools have been developed for Liquid Composite Moulding (LCM). These include simulations of both the performing and resin injection phases. Whilst the physics of the injection phase are now relatively well understood, fabric forming simulations are usually based on a kinematic mapping, using an idealised fabric construction which does not account for the range of fibre architectures which are available. At present fabric forming and flow simulations exist as separate entities, whereas in reality the fibre distribution after forming significantly affects resin flow during injection. This project is aimed at developing an understanding of both the mechanics of fabric deformation and the resulting effects on impregnation properties. This will be incorporated in an integrated CAE system for both the preforming and resin injection phases. The first stage will be to develop a mechanics based simulation of reinforcement deformation during preforming, building on a fabric draping simulation developed at the University of Nottingham. This will be integrated with an existing flow model (the LMPC code developed by Michigan State University). The resulting software system will facilitate LCM process and tolling design, encouraging the introduction of a range of new components produced by LCM>
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Summary
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Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk