Compaction modelling of textile preforms for composite structures

This paper deals with modelling the compaction behaviour of dry fibre assemblies using an energy minimisation scheme. Compaction behaviour of textile preforms can significantly influence the resin permeability, fibre volume fraction and the geometry of individual tows. Tow geometry will in turn affect the elastic properties of the laminate, mode of damage initiation and progression. In this work, constitutive properties of yarns in bending and transverse compression were measured using Kawabata Evaluation System, and used for computing the potential energy stored in individual yarn segments within a preform. The compaction model has been experimentally verified for single and multi-layer 2D fabrics and 3D fabrics.