Paper number 876

SIMULATION OF THE COMPRESSION MOLDING OF UNIDIRECTIONAL COMPOSITE LEAF SPRINGS

B. Gardarein1, P. Durand2, P. Lory1

1Research Department, RENAULT
2Materials Engineering Department, RENAULT
Technocentre RENAULT, TCR RUC 429, 1 Avenue du Golf , 78288 Guyancourt Cedex, France

Summary The aim of this paper is to introduce the software LAME2D, developed by RENAULT Research Department, to simulate the compression molding process of composite leaf springs. The theoretical model is detailed, and the performances of the software are discussed using as a representative example a particular leaf spring shape. Several moulding conditions are examined, i.e. the height of the spring, the punch velocity, ad the tool temperature. The simulation results are compared with instrumented experiments, and it is shown that in each case, the model is able to predict with reasonable accuracy the temperature evolution and the fibre distribution in every location of the spring, which makes it an useful and reliable tool for the optimisation of the process.
Keywords compression moulding, simulation, unidirectional prepregs.

Theme : Processing, Integrated Design and Manufacturing ; Processing

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