All Outputs (49)

Solid epoxy resin systems for automated composite manufacturing (2020)
Journal Article

© 2020 The Author(s) Thermosetting resins were formulated by mixing solid epoxy components, hardener and accelerator at elevated temperature. These mixtures were ground into uncured, solid resin powders and dispensed onto carbon fibres using a powder... Read More about Solid epoxy resin systems for automated composite manufacturing.

The behaviour of thermoplastic and thermoset carbon-fibre composites subjected to low-velocity and high-velocity impact (2020)
Journal Article

The present paper describes the results from experimental and theoretical modelling studies on the behaviour of continuous carbon-fibre/polymer matrix composites subjected to a relatively low-velocity or high-velocity impact, using a rigid, metallic... Read More about The behaviour of thermoplastic and thermoset carbon-fibre composites subjected to low-velocity and high-velocity impact.

A macroscale finite element approach for simulating the bending behaviour of biaxial fabrics (2020)
Journal Article

A macroscale finite element (FE) model was developed to simulate the forming behaviour of biaxial fabrics, incorporating the effects of bending stiffness to predict fabric wrinkling. The dependency of the bending stiffness on the fibre orientation wa... Read More about A macroscale finite element approach for simulating the bending behaviour of biaxial fabrics.

Modelling the permeability of random discontinuous carbon fibre preforms (2020)
Journal Article

A force-directed algorithm was developed to create representative geometrical models of fibre distributions in Directed Carbon Fibre Preforms (DCFP). Local permeability values were calculated for the preform models depending on the local fibre orient... Read More about Modelling the permeability of random discontinuous carbon fibre preforms.

Simulation of the forming process for curved composite sandwich panels (2019)
Journal Article

© 2019, The Author(s). For affordable high-volume manufacture of sandwich panels with complex curvature and varying thickness, fabric skins and a core structure are simultaneously press-formed using a set of matched tools. A finite-element-based proc... Read More about Simulation of the forming process for curved composite sandwich panels.

Optimisation of local in-plane constraining forces in double diaphragm forming (2018)
Journal Article

© 2018 Elsevier Ltd Rigid blocks (risers) were introduced in the double diaphragm forming (DDF) process to change the local in-plane strain distribution in the diaphragms, aimed at reducing wrinkling defects in the production of fabric preforms. A tw... Read More about Optimisation of local in-plane constraining forces in double diaphragm forming.

Simulating damage onset and evolution in fully bio-resorbable composite under three-point bending (2018)
Journal Article

This paper presents a strain-based damage model to predict the stress-strain relationship and investigate the damage onset and evolution of the fibre and matrix of a fully bio-resorbable phosphate glass fibre reinforced composite under three-point be... Read More about Simulating damage onset and evolution in fully bio-resorbable composite under three-point bending.

Finite element study of the microdroplet test for interfacial shear strength: Effects of geometric parameters for a carbon fibre/epoxy system (2017)
Journal Article

A 3D finite element model has been developed to identify the main causes of variability in the microdroplet test, which is commonly used to characterise the interfacial shear strength between polymer matrices and single filaments. A more realistic dr... Read More about Finite element study of the microdroplet test for interfacial shear strength: Effects of geometric parameters for a carbon fibre/epoxy system.

A water-soluble core material for manufacturing hollow composite sections (2017)
Journal Article

This paper presents the development of a low-cost water-soluble core material, which is suitable for producing hollow composite structures via high pressure moulding processes, such as compression moulding and resin transfer moulding. The bulk materi... Read More about A water-soluble core material for manufacturing hollow composite sections.

Long discontinuous carbon fibre/polypropylene composites for high volume structural applications (2017)
Journal Article

A processing route is presented to manufacture discontinuous carbon fibre reinforced polypropylene (CF.PP) composites, using much longer fibre lengths (25mm) and higher volume fractions (up to 45%) than previously reported in the literature. Carbon f... Read More about Long discontinuous carbon fibre/polypropylene composites for high volume structural applications.

Double diaphragm forming simulation for complex composite structures (2017)
Journal Article

A finite element (FE) model has been developed to simulate the double diaphragm forming (DDF) process, to identify potential defects when forming complex 3D preforms from 2D biaxial non-crimp fabric plies. Three different metrics have been introduced... Read More about Double diaphragm forming simulation for complex composite structures.

Compression moulding of composites with hybrid fibre architectures (2016)
Journal Article

Advanced Sheet Moulding Compounds (ASMC) and unidirectional (UD) prepregs have been co-compression moulded to form a hybrid composite material. In-mould flow influences the UD fibre architecture in two ways. When UD fibres are aligned transversely to... Read More about Compression moulding of composites with hybrid fibre architectures.

3D geometric modelling of discontinuous fibre composites using a force-directed algorithm (2016)
Journal Article

A geometrical modelling scheme is presented to produce representative architectures for discontinuous fibre composites, enabling downstream modelling of mechanical properties. The model generates realistic random fibre architectures containing high f... Read More about 3D geometric modelling of discontinuous fibre composites using a force-directed algorithm.

Defect formation during preforming of a bi-axial non-crimp fabric with a pillar stitch pattern (2016)
Journal Article

To capture the asymmetrical shear behaviour of a bi-axial NCF with a pillar stitch, a non-orthogonal constitutive model was developed and implemented in finite element forming simulations. Preforming experiments indicate that the local distribution o... Read More about Defect formation during preforming of a bi-axial non-crimp fabric with a pillar stitch pattern.

Flow characteristics of carbon fibre moulding compounds (2016)
Journal Article

This paper presents the development of a low-cost carbon fibre moulding compound using an automated spray deposition process. Directed Fibre Compounding (DFC) is used to produce charge packs directly from low cost carbon fibre tows and liquid epoxy r... Read More about Flow characteristics of carbon fibre moulding compounds.

Optimisation of composite bone plates for ulnar transverse fractures (2016)
Journal Article

Metallic bone plates are commonly used for arm bone fractures where conservative treatment (casts) cannot provide adequate support and compression at the fracture site. These plates, made of stainless steel or titanium alloys, tend to shield stress t... Read More about Optimisation of composite bone plates for ulnar transverse fractures.

Flow characteristics of carbon fibre sheet moulding compounds (2015)
Conference Proceeding

© 2015 International Committee on Composite Materials. All rights reserved. This paper presents the development of a low cost carbon fibre moulding compound using a robotic spray deposition process, developed at the University of Nottingham. Directed... Read More about Flow characteristics of carbon fibre sheet moulding compounds.

Formability optimisation of fabric preforms by controlling material draw-in through in-plane constraints (2015)
Journal Article

A genetic algorithm is coupled with a finite element model to optimise the arrangement of constraints for a composite press-forming study. A series of springs are used to locally apply in-plane tension through clamps to the fibre preform to control m... Read More about Formability optimisation of fabric preforms by controlling material draw-in through in-plane constraints.

Inter-ply stitching optimisation of highly drapeable multi-ply preforms (2015)
Journal Article

An efficient finite element model has been developed in Abaqus/Explicit to solve highly non-linear fabric forming problems, using a non-orthogonal constitutive relation and membrane elements to model bi-axial fabrics. 1D cable-spring elements have be... Read More about Inter-ply stitching optimisation of highly drapeable multi-ply preforms.

A study of an improved cutting mechanism of composite materials using novel design of diamond micro-core drills (2014)
Journal Article

Core drilling at small diameters in carbon composite materials is largely carried out using diamond electroplated tools consisting of hollow shafts and simplistic geometries that are likely to work in an abrasional/rubbing mode for material removal.... Read More about A study of an improved cutting mechanism of composite materials using novel design of diamond micro-core drills.