Abstract
This study proposes an efficient beam element model within a thermo-chemo-mechanical framework for predicting curing deformations in thin-walled composite structures. The path-dependent constitutive model accounts for cure-phase transitions and efficiently computes internal forces from thermal expansion and chemical shrinkage. Validation against experimental data for L-shaped and C-shaped components demonstrated close agreement, with maximum errors below 11%. Parametric studies reveal distinct geometric influences: for L-shaped profiles, the spring-back angle decreases with greater thickness or larger corner radii but increases significantly with longer leg lengths. Conversely, for C-shaped profiles, spring-back decreases with thickness yet increases with larger radii. Across both geometries, cross-ply laminates exhibit greater deformation than unidirectional lay-ups due to their lower circumferential stiffness. The exceptional computational efficiency (≤30 s per case) facilitates extensive parametric analysis, providing practical insights for mitigating deformation through targeted geometric and lay-up optimization. This approach offers a robust and efficient tool for improving manufacturing accuracy in composite airframe components.
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