Abstract
The development of sub-preforms is very often a vital step within the resin transfer molding composite technology, to manufacture 3D net shape preforms. This step can be especially necessary for the adaptation of metallic inserts in the ready to impregnate fibrous structure. Inserts can be brought into the structure by means of a stitch-based joining technology. Within this study, the bonding efficiency of metallic inserts in glass fiber reinforced composite with an epoxy matrix has been evaluated. The influence of different polyester sewing threads, stitch types, and sewing parameters on the mechanical properties of the stitched inserts were also investigated. The injected specimens were loaded with static tensile stress. During the destruction tests the maximum load force of a sewn insert and the failure mode has been observed. The first section of the inserts failure mechanism was finite element analysis modeled up to the first delamination phase. The finite element analysis confirmed the results of the experimental studies.
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