TEsting of Fibre Steered Composites (TEFSC)

TEFSC将为快速丝束剪切(RTS)技术的广泛工业应用开发关键推动因素，RTS是一种新型复合材料制造技术，它允许沿弯曲路径(纤维方向)放置宽碳带，而不会出现现有自动纤维放置/铺带技术(AFP/ATL)中常见的缺陷(间隙/重叠/褶皱)。RTS由iCOMAT(布里斯托尔大学衍生公司)开发，并已在英国获得专利-GB2492594，还有4项专利正在审批中。ICOMAT最近成为英国第一家/唯一一家自动化机器供应商，获得了第一份汽车一级机器安装合同，为英国一家主要OEM开发部件。目前的设计方法利用一系列公认的机械特性测试(ASTM标准)来获得材料允许数据。这些测试方法适用于使用当前工艺(直纤维)制造的毛坯。然而，弯曲纤维设计产生的独特性能和行为意味着必须开发新的测试方法来彻底了解这种行为，因为导向复合材料可能会在第二个方向上产生影响。由于缺乏一种成熟的纤维导向部件测试方法，由于认证方面的障碍，RTS工艺无法广泛采用，特别是在航空航天和空间应用方面。TEFSC项目将于2022年10月开始，持续6个月，届时将开发一种创新的稳健测试方法来验证导向复合材料的力学性能。TEFSC的成功完成将为认证、加速在航空航天中采用RTS铺平道路。

TEFSC will develop key enablers for wide industrial adoption of Rapid Tow Shearing (RTS), a novel composites manufacturing technology, which allows the placement of wide carbon tapes along curved paths (fibre-steering) without the defects (gaps/overlaps/wrinkles) typically seen with existing Automated Fibre Placement/ Tape Laying technologies (AFP/ATL). RTS has been developed by iCOMAT (Bristol University spin-out) and is already patented in the UK- GB2492594, with 4 more patents pending approval. iCOMAT has recently become the first/only UK automated-machine-supplier by securing the first contract for machine installation at an automotive Tier-1 to develop parts for a major UK OEM.Current design methods make use of a series of well-established mechanical characterisation tests (ASTM standards) to obtain material allowables data. These test methods are suitable for coupons manufactured using current processes (straight fibres). However, the unique properties and behaviours arising from curved fibre designs mean that new test methods must be developed to provide a thorough understanding of this behaviour as steered composites can lead to effects in the secondary direction. The lack of an established testing method for fibre-steered components prohibits wide adoption of the RTS process due to barriers related to certification, especially for aerospace and space applications, respectively.The TEFSC project will begin in October 2022 and runs for 6 months, by which point an innovative robust testing method to validate the mechanical properties of steered composites will be developed. Successful completion of TEFSC will pave the way for certification accelerating adoption of RTS in aerospace.