Non-Crimp Fabric Composites

Prof. Stepan V. Lomov graduated with an M.S. in Physics-Mechanics from Leningrad Polytechnic Institute (1978) and then went on to complete his PhD in1985. He was awarded his Dr. Hab. on textile materials science in 1995, from St. Petersburg State University of Technology and Design. Since 1999, Professor Lomov has been working at KU Leuven, Belgium, in the Department of Materials Engineering. He was coordinator of the Composite Materials Group from 2013 to 2020. He was holder of the Toray Chair in Composite Materials at KU Leuven between 2013 to 2022 and has been an Emeritus Professor since 2020. His research areas include composites and textiles science and engineering: internal structure, manufacturing, in-service mechanical behaviour, nanocomposites, experimental damage mechanics, micro- and meso-level geometrical and mechanical models.

• Contributor contact detailsIntroductionPart I: Manufacturing of non-crimp fabricsChapter 1: Production of non-crimp fabrics for compositesAbstract:1.1 Introduction1.2 Warp-knitted non-crimp fabric (NCF)1.3 Weft-knitted NCF1.4 Non-crimp woven fabrics1.5 3D woven and non-interlaced NCF1.6 Fixation by adhesion1.7 Comparison of production technologies1.8 Future trends1.9 AcknowledgmentsChapter 2: Standardisation of production technologies for non-crimp fabric compositesAbstract:2.1 Introduction2.2 Classification and standardisation of non-crimp fabric (NCF) production methods2.3 Outstanding patents of existing machines for the production of NCFs2.4 The ‘Hexcel patent’ – EP 0972102 B12.5 Product patents in the production of NCFs2.6 Immobilisation of adhesive on the surface of semi-finished textile products (DE 102008004112 A1)Chapter 3: Structural stitching of non-crimp fabric preforms for compositesAbstract:3.1 Introduction3.2 Threads for structural stitching technology3.3 Stitching technology and sewing machines3.4 Quality aspects for structural stitching3.5 Applications and future trendsChapter 4: Understanding and modelling the effect of stitching on the geometry of non-crimp fabricsAbstract:4.1 Introduction4.2 General parameters of the fibrous plies4.3 Geometry of the stitching4.4 Distortions of fibres in the plies4.5 Change of the geometry after shear4.6 A geometrical model of NCF4.7 ConclusionChapter 5: Automated analysis of defects in non-crimp fabrics for compositesAbstract:5.1 Motivation5.2 Quality characteristics of non-crimp fabric (NCF)5.3 Quality analysis of NCF by digital image analysis5.4 Future trendsPart II: Manufacturing of non-crimp fabric compositesChapter 6: Deformability of textile performs in the manufacture of non-crimp fabric compositesAbstract:6.1 Introduction6.2 Shear6.3 Biaxial tension6.4 Compression6.5 Bending6.6 ConclusionChapter 7: Modelling the deformability of biaxial non-crimp fabric compositesAbstract:7.1 Introduction7.2 Behaviour of fabric architecture on the shear and draping behaviour of non-crimp fabrics (NCFs)7.3 Modelling strategies for NCF forming7.4 Energy-based kinematic mapping7.5 Finite element modelling of forming for NCFs7.6 Future trends7.7 Further information and adviceChapter 8: Permeability of non-crimp fabric preformsAbstract:8.1 Introduction8.2 Experimental permeability results8.3 Geometric effects8.4 Deformation and permeability8.5 Conclusions8.6 Acknowledgements8.8 Appendix: nomenclatureChapter 9: Understanding variability in the permeability of non-crimp fabric composite reinforcementsAbstract:9.1 Introduction9.2 Material characterisation9.3 Permeability measurement9.4 Modelling and simulation9.5 Future trendsChapter 10: Modelling of the permeability of non-crimp fabrics for compositesAbstract:10.1 Introduction10.2 Numerical simulation10.3 Experimental validation10.4 Parametric study10.5 Influence of shear10.6 Conclusion10.7 AcknowledgementsPart III: Properties of non-crimp fabric compositesChapter 11: Mechanical properties of non-crimp fabric (NCF) based composites: stiffness and strengthAbstract:11.1 Introduction11.2 Materials and composite production11.3 Test procedures11.4 Mechanical properties of non-crimp fabric (NCF) composites11.5 Mechanical properties of composites based on sheared MMCF11.6 Damage development in B2 (0°/90°) laminates11.8 Damage initiation in non-sheared and sheared materials11.9 ConclusionsChapter 12: Damage progression in non-crimp fabric compositesAbstract:12.1 Introduction12.2 Damage progression in non-crimp fabric (NCF) composites due to in-plane loading12.3 Damage progression in impacted NCF composites12.4 ConclusionsChapter 13: Fatigue in non-crimp fabric compositesAbstract:13.1 Introduction13.2 Fatigue in non-crimp fabric (NCF) composites13.3 Post-fatigue residual properties13.4 Conclusions and open questions13.6 AppendixChapter 14: Mechanical properties of structurally stitched non-crimp fabric compositesAbstract:14.1 Introduction14.2 Materials and stitching configurations14.3 Characterisation of structurally stitched NCF laminates14.4 Simulation of mechanical behaviour of structurally stitched laminates14.5 Conclusions and future trendsChapter 15: Predicting the effect of stitching on the mechanical properties and damage of non-crimp fabric composites: finite element analysisAbstract:15.1 Introduction15.2 Representative volume element (RVE) of noncrimp fabric (NCF) composites15.3 Elastic analysis15.4 Damage accumulation in NCF composites15.5 ConclusionsChapter 16: Modelling drape, stress and impact behaviour of non-crimp fabric compositesAbstract:16.1 Finite element (FE) methods for drape, stress and impact analysis16.2 Laminate analysis and FE stiffness for non-crimp fabric (NCF)16.3 FE methods for infusion analysis16.4 Draping and FE simulation16.5 Infusion simulation16.6 Stiffness and failure16.7 Impact and failureChapter 17: Modelling stiffness and strength of non-crimp fabric composites: semi-laminar analysisAbstract:17.1 Introduction17.2 Stiffness models17.3 Strength models for non-crimp fabric (NCF) composites17.4 ConclusionsPart IV: Applications of non-crimp fabric compositesChapter 18: Aerospace applications of non-crimp fabric compositesAbstract:18.1 Introduction18.2 Aeronautic requirements18.3 Application examples18.4 Future trendsChapter 19: Non-crimp fabric: preforming analysis for helicopter applicationsAbstract:19.1 Introduction19.2 Preform techniques for non-crimp fabrics (NCFs)19.3 Main NCF deformation mechanism observed during preforming19.4 Preforming defect analysis19.5 Conclusion and future trendsChapter 20: Automotive applications of non-crimp fabric compositesAbstract:20.1 Introduction20.2 Applications of non-crimp fabrics (NCF) in the automotive industry20.3 Research and development for the use of NCF in automotive applications20.4 Future trends20.5 ConclusionChapter 21: Non-crimp fabric composites in wind turbinesAbstract:21.1 Introduction21.2 Development of non-crimp fabric (NCF) composites in wind energy21.3 NCF materials used in nacelle construction21.4 Future trendsChapter 22: Cost analysis in using non-crimp fabric composites in engineering applicationsAbstract:22.1 Introduction22.2 Costing methodologies: current approaches22.3 Technical cost modelling22.4 Case study: 40 m wind turbine blade shell22.5 AcknowledgementsIndex