Computational optimisation strategies of tailored fibre placement in polymer matrix composites based on local shear stress minimisation

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to present optimisation strategies of Tailored Fibre Placement (TFP) in polymer matrix composites using FEM analysis with the principal stress criterion. In this work we will shed some light on the differences of typical engineering approaches which are state of the art for TFP and semi-consistent schemes where stress states and fibre orientation are coupled. The criterion is presented in a coupled procedure, where several iterations lead to a good agreement of fibre directions and principal stress vectors. Furthermore some deficiencies of the applied optimisation scheme are addressed and proposals for overcoming these problems are given.