Experimental and Numerical Investigations of Additively Manufactured Polymer Composite Materials for Aerospace Applications

Abstract

Due to higher specific strength and stiffness compared to aluminium and steel, composites are being employed more often to create parts for aircraft and space applications. Wet lay-up, resin transfer moulding, automated lay-ups, and other traditional composite production techniques all have several material and practical drawbacks that have restricted their application. In these processes, variations in the mechanical characteristics of the components also occur, which might lead to issues later. Material flaws such as interlaminar gaps, delamination, improper orientation, damaged fibres, and variations in thickness may be introduced during the production of laminates. newlineTherefore, a new technique called Additive Manufacturing (AM) is investigated, which creates an opportunity for broadening the applications of composite material in aerospace applications. Barriers to the fabrication of complex geometry of composites have been eliminated by AM processes such as Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM). Compared to traditional composite manufacturing techniques, AM processes provide more design and material freedom.n this research, the short and continuous Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composite specimens were fabricated using the Mark Two Composite 3D printer ofMarkforged company. newline newline