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This paper modeled the tension fluctuation during automated fiber placement (AFP), which depicted the tension variations under different operating conditions. The stability and validity of the model were demonstrated using Bode plots and experiments, respectively. According to the model, the tension fluctuations of AFP at different stages were obtained. Additionally, the passive dancer parameters with the better system performance were determined using the evaluation methodology presented in this paper. Moreover, it was discovered that the damping coefficient affects the tension variation more significantly than the elasticity coefficient. Finally, the placement experiments showed that the determined passive dancer parameters improved the laying quality significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In lost foam casting (LFC), the distribution of polymer beads during the bead filling process is not uniform, and the collision between polymer beads determines the distribution of two-phase flow of gas and solid. The interaction between the gas and solid phases reveals as coupling effect of the force that gas exerts on particles or vice versa, or that among particles. The gas-solid flow in filling process is nonlinearity, which makes the coupling effect an essential point to carry out a simulation properly. Therefore, information of each particle’s motion is important for acquiring the law of filling process. In bead filling process, compressed air is pressed into mold cavity, and discharged from gas vent, creating a pressure difference between outer and inner space near the gas vent. This pressure difference directly changes the spatial distribution and motion trace of gas and solid phases. In this paper, Discrete Element Method (DEM) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) are employed to simulate the fluid dynamic character based on Newton’s Third Law of Motion. The simulation results of some casting products such as pressure plate and valve handle are compared with the result obtained from practical experiment in order to test the feasibility of DEM. The comparison shows that this DEM method can be a very promising tool in the mould filling simulation of beads’ movement.

In lost foam casting (LFC) the foam pattern is the key criterion, and the filling process is crucial to ensure the high quality of the foam pattern. Filling which lacks uniformity and denseness will cause various defects and affect the surface quality of the casting. The infl uential factors of the fi lling process are realized in this research. Optimization of the fi lling process, enhancement of effi ciency, decrease of waste, etc., are obtained by the numerical simulation of the fi lling process using a computer.The equations governing the dense gas-solid two-phase flow are established, and the physical significance of each equation is discussed. The Euler/Lagrange numerical model is used to simulate the fluid dynamic characteristics of the dense two-phase fl ow during the mould fi lling process in lost foam casting. The experiments and numerical results showed that this method can be a very promising tool in the mould fi lling simulation of beads' movement.

For automated fiber placement onto molds with complex surfaces, uneven compaction pressure distribution limits tows number in a single sequence and affects layup quality. Compaction roller has a direct influence on the pressure distribution, but the relationship between the two has not been widely explored. In this paper, the segmented compaction roller is used, and a theoretical model of compaction pressure distribution for layup onto general surfaces is established by analyzing the contact between the roller and prepreg layers, followed by experimental validation. Based on the model, single-point pressure uniformity and whole-path pressure uniformity are proposed to quantitatively evaluate the pressure distribution. Furthermore, pressure distribution and pressure uniformity of segmented roller and common roller are compared, as well as the influence of the two pressure distribution on layup quality. The results show that the established model can predict pressure distribution and provide a basis for analyzing layup defects, and segmented rollers apply evener compaction pressure and help to improve layup quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automated fiber placement (AFP) combining with the autoclave curing process is the main manufacturing method for large-scale rotary composite parts. During the forming process, the mandrel plays an important role that affects the forming quality of the part directly. In this study, design and analysis of the mandrel structure for a composite S-shaped inlet are carried out. The preforming process of the rotary composite part using the AFP technique is introduced first. Then, design principles of the shaft are presented and applied to the shaft design for the mandrel of the S-shaped inlet, which then is transformed into an optimization problem. The internal penalty function method is adopted to solve this optimization problem in order to obtain the optimal axis position and axle diameter. Moreover, detailed structure design of the mandrel is proposed which takes the demolding into consideration, and the wall thickness is designed considering the total weight and the stiffness. The static analysis and modal analysis are also carried out by the finite element method to verify the feasibility of the proposed mandrel structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]