Laminate Sample #34: Asymmetric Prepreg Carbon Sheet

Тәжірибелік нұсқаулар және стиль

This Laminate Sample #34 is about asymmetric(al) laminates, resin bleed and thin prepreg. It isn't really an example of things you SHOULD do - but more things you should avoid!
The laminate itself is four plies of 300g prepreg uni in a 0/90 "cross-ply" layup. Because the ply orientation isn't symmetrical about the neutral axis of the laminate, there is warping when the laminate is cured. This wouldn't happen if the stacking order had been symmetrical!
See Laminate Sample 4 for this done properly: • Laminate Sample #4: Pr...
To add insult to injury, the cure cycle was too hot too fast and the resin viscosity dropped very low allowing lots of resin to bleed out. Because there was only 35% resin or so to begin with, even a small amount of bleed reduced the resin by weight to 28% - with an estimated fiber volume fraction of 62%. This isn't quite enough and the tool surface looks pretty dry. Generally 30% resin by weight is a reasonable minimum for non-autoclaved prepreg.
To top it off I used a sketchy debulk method with no sealant tape on some Stretchlon film! Don't do what I do...
For more information on practical composites, check out the EC! site:
explorecomposites.com/

Пікірлер: 20

  • @TechnoComposites
    @TechnoComposites3 жыл бұрын

    You've done a lot of work to present those facts about this material. Thank's a lot!

  • @ExploreComposites

    @ExploreComposites

    3 жыл бұрын

    I'm glad you think it's useful! Usually try to get these laminate sample videos done in a few hours so the production quality and lack of scripting shows - just trying to pack stuff in to make a useful 5 or 10 minutes.

  • @TechnoComposites

    @TechnoComposites

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@ExploreComposites Oh yes, i know about that challenge😉

  • @TMBountyHunter
    @TMBountyHunter3 жыл бұрын

    This is a wonderfully fascinating channel, thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience!

  • @ExploreComposites

    @ExploreComposites

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thanks! Thats a very kind way to describe what is here... going to try to make it more-so if I can find some more time to work on it!

  • @1GunWonder
    @1GunWonder3 жыл бұрын

    These videos are fantastic, thank you! I'd love to see some tips on using core materials on complex (2-axis) curves if you get the time.

  • @ExploreComposites

    @ExploreComposites

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thanks! Yes, I am working on some non- flat stuff but haven’t had much time lately - definitely part of the plan!

  • @russellmiller2564
    @russellmiller25643 жыл бұрын

    I’ve always been told the mechanism at work here is the CTE mismatch of fiber and matrix at elevated temp cure, as cured laminate cools, stresses develop which propagates the deformation. This is always the example given when discussing laminate schedules and why you want a balanced AND symmetric laminate. My understanding is that the *esters also have this issue because of the same mechanism. Even though they cure at room temp (but seem to be able to be much more exothermic than epoxy!) they have worse CTE characteristics so more extreme shrinkage. Haven’t considered the percent solids part of the equation... would be interested to learn more I think the airplane wing structure being designed asymmetric, was to try to counteract wash(or twist) due to bending for better aerodynamics in its loaded(deformed) state. I’ve heard of people trying this in dinghy Centerboards too. Check your mechanics of materials textbook for bending of asymmetric beams to get a primer on that... then all you have to add is the mechanics of composites stuff! Easy peasy (like how easy it is to draw blood from a stone...) I’d be interested to know what the application was where you wanted an asymmetric laminate to cure flat... There are compensations for CTE of tooling done, so it’s possible. But why try to make a potato chip flat the hard way when you can just use a flat mold and a balanced and symmetric laminate.

  • @ExploreComposites

    @ExploreComposites

    3 жыл бұрын

    I think you're right - and I did a poor job of explaining "thermal stuff" in the video! Lack of scripting had me mumble through those slides. My understanding it that fibers constrain the resin long-way but CTE impacts transverse dimensions to each ply so stresses and warping... And I wish I could get through the engineering - forgot that math long ago! This was just to demonstrate the concept of laminate symmetry and what can go wrong. These samples are supposed to be quick little laminate examples, process demos and illustrations of things that go wrong -all packed together in a hopefully-not-too-confusing way! I try to make enough mistakes to be educational but not so many that it's worthless.

  • @russellmiller2564

    @russellmiller2564

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@ExploreComposites I think you do a great job of toeing the line between practical and the knowledge base behind why things are done a certain way with advanced composites. I really enjoy all your content. The articles on your website are a gold mine! I'm not sure I could walk through the math myself these days... the computer program does a good job though! My other comments were trying to add to the discussion in a few other comments... probably just muddied the waters though. Thanks for putting in all this work to consolidate your knowledge base to share with all of us

  • @carbonarne675
    @carbonarne6753 жыл бұрын

    hey anouther tip: you can use the plug it self- wriggle around on the underside of the aluminium and it will create a perfect round hole for the vacuumhoseplug without using a knife... that saves time

  • @ExploreComposites

    @ExploreComposites

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thanks - I'll have to try that - sounds like a good idea! Just looked at my vacuum connectors and they are rounded and have a little roll pin that goes through a slot where the top pokes through so it may not work as well. Do you use threaded ones?

  • @carbonarne675

    @carbonarne675

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@ExploreComposites try it. i use both

  • @hannesaltenfelder4302
    @hannesaltenfelder43022 ай бұрын

    Please make a video on how to calculate carbon fiber layers when you have a 3dimensional oart with different thicknesses like an orthotic in-sole (flat at the front, individual at the middle and rather thick at the end).

  • @ExploreComposites

    @ExploreComposites

    Ай бұрын

    What about the layers do you want to calculate? Analyzing a tapered or contoured part can be a bit of work - is it the composite properties you're after?

  • @hannesaltenfelder4302

    @hannesaltenfelder4302

    Ай бұрын

    @@ExploreComposites no, in my case it is just the fitting/shape of the part. I would like to precut the layers and with an easy shape like a cube, this would be rather easy (lots of squares). But how many? And when I have like an organic landscape shape, do I need to have a CAD model and slice it in layers? Or could a plaster model, grinded down work as well as an template? And finally my most important question: is there an upper limit for compressing fibers? Could I (theoretically) press 100 layers under a 300 tons press or at which point would the fibers break. Because I saw a video, where they tried to break a (cured) carbon fiber cube under an hydraulic press with many, many layers and they could not break the cube.

  • @fredygump5578
    @fredygump55783 жыл бұрын

    Thanks! In the past I have naively assumed that warping shouldn't be an issue when using epoxy resin...because 100% solids. Clearly that isn't true!

  • @ExploreComposites

    @ExploreComposites

    3 жыл бұрын

    Yeah it's strange - not sure it's a volatility issue or a thermal issue... or both. Resin CTE may be very different from fiber and fiber just constrains the resin from shrinking in the fiber-axis. I am not 100% on all the mechanics of this so if anybody knows I'd like to learn more! Actually the aluminum tooling may have an impact on this but it happens with carbon tooling too. This is really just to show that it does happen and to watch out for it...

  • @beachboardfan9544
    @beachboardfan95443 жыл бұрын

    So is it impossible to get a flat asymmetrical panel? For example, could you have a mold with that amount of bend in it to counter act the post cure warp?

  • @ExploreComposites

    @ExploreComposites

    3 жыл бұрын

    Yes I think. I read about aircraft designed with unbalanced wing laminates to provide improved strength - or something. With more complicated layups it becomes calculable from a shear perspective too. Search "in-plane extension-shear coupling" - I am not engineer-enough to understand it... forgot my matrix algebra long ago.

Келесі