TEsting of Fibre Steered Composites (TEFSC)

TEFSC将为快速丝束剪切（RTS）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，允许沿沿着弯曲路径放置宽碳带（纤维转向），而不会出现现有自动纤维放置/铺带技术（AFP/ATL）通常会出现的缺陷（间隙/重叠/褶皱）。RTS由iCOMAT（布里斯托大学分拆）开发，已在英国获得专利-GB 2492594，另有4项专利正在审批中。iCOMAT最近成为英国第一个/唯一的自动化机器供应商，获得了第一份汽车一级机器安装合同，为英国一家主要OEM开发零件。目前的设计方法使用一系列成熟的机械特性测试（ASTM标准）来获得材料允许数据。这些试验方法适用于使用当前工艺（直纤维）制造的试样。然而，弯曲纤维设计所产生的独特性能和行为意味着必须开发新的测试方法，以提供对这种行为的透彻理解，因为转向复合材料可能会导致次级方向的影响。由于缺乏成熟的纤维转向组件测试方法，导致RTS工艺的广泛采用受到与认证相关的障碍的阻碍，特别是对于航空航天和空间应用。TEFSC项目将于2022年10月开始，运行6个月，届时将开发出一种创新的稳健测试方法来验证转向复合材料的机械性能。TEFSC的成功完成将为加速RTS在航空航天领域的采用铺平道路。

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.