STEERING LIMITATIONS FOR IN-SITU AUTOMATED FIBRE PLACEMENT MANUFACTURED STRUCTURES

Abstract

Laser-assisted Automated Fibre Placement (AFP) is a promising manufacturing technology for the cost- and time-efficient manufacture of large-scale carbonfibre-reinforced components. This technology enables in-situ consolidation of thermoplastic prepreg material without subsequent autoclave processing. The manufacture of advanced structures often requires curved layup paths, for example, to implement predetermined ply angles on a double curved geometry. This curvature can lead to defects, which are particularly critical with in-situ consolidation, as they cannot be mitigated by subsequent autoclave or hot press processes. This work aims to quantify the frequency and magnitude of steering-induced defects for different manufacturing parameters.