Novel optimization method to estimate the geometrical properties of a multiaxial 3D woven preform

Abstract

This article describes a contribution to the development of a numerical model for the geometrical description of multiaxial 3D woven preforms, at the scale of a unit cell. A novel approach enabling computation of preforms cross-section dimensions depending on the manufacturing and weaving parameters has been developed. The aims of this model are first to establish the relationships between geometrical parameters to construct a representative volume element of the structure, which can be used for finite element modeling, and second to optimize the description of the structure taking into account the specificities of these woven architectures. With this geometrical tool, the influence of the waviness of the binder tows, of the choice of the tows cross section on the fiber volume fraction is illustrated and discussed. Several numerical configurations of multiaxial 3D woven preforms are computed and compared. Finally to show the advantages of this woven architecture, the numerical model is used to compare the geometrical properties of multiaxial 3D woven preforms with those of other equivalent 3D preform configurations like 3D woven interlock preform or laminate preform.

Keywords

Multiaxial 3D woven preforms geometrical modeling representative volume element model

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