Date of Award

12-2017

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Aeronautics and Astronautics

Committee Chair

R. Byron Pipes

Committee Member 1

Jan-Anders M˚anson

Committee Member 2

Wenbin Yu

Committee Member 3

Vlastimil Kunc

Abstract

Molding systems formed by cutting and slitting prepreg composite tape into the form of platelets have been shown to be beneficial in producing parts with moderate performance with moderate processing characteristics. However, the platelets forming the molding system are typically quite large compared to typical part thicknesses. Therefore, a challenge of scales exists in platelet molding systems that is absent in traditionally considered well dispersed fiber molding systems used in injection molding. In this dissertation, we consider the specific problem of determining the final orientation state of parts manufactured in compression molding from platelet molding systems along with identifying parameters which affect ease of processing. A multi-scale approach is taken addressing necessary descriptors of platelet orientation state, evolution relationships for platelet orientations, constitutive model forms along with anisotropic viscosity predictions, and finite element based implementations to analyze complex problems. The major result is then a holistic modeling approach applied to a pin bracket geometry which is then validated versus experimental measurements.

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