Fiber placement and fiber steering systems and corresponding software for composite structures
AssigneeMcDonnell Douglas Corporation
InventorsRichard D. Hale, Virginia M. Vasey-Glandon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A composite design optimization process for designing a laminate part includes steps for generating a globally optimized 3-D ply definition for a laminate part, optimizing the 3-D ply definition at the individual tow level, subsequently generating a feedback signal providing tow specific information, and modifying the 3-D ply and 3-D tow definition responsive to the feedback signal. A laminate part constructed using a composite design optimization process and a composite design optimization system used in designing a laminate part, comprising circuitry for generating globally optimized 3-D ply and 3-D tow definitions for a laminate part are also described.
Claims20
A method of manufacturing a composite structure comprising individual tows, the method comprising the steps of:
- specifying properties regarding the structure into analytical software tools;
- integrating design optimization tools with the analytical software tools to define a closed loop design system, such that the closed loop design system provides a final design;
- providing true 3-D geometric tow definition of individual tows of the composite to the closed loop design system to perform quantifiable computational assessments of common geometric flaws such as tow gaps and overlaps;
- translating the final design into a form understandable by a fiber placement machine;
- and
- using the translated final design in order to manufacture the composite structure.
A method of manufacturing a composite structure comprising individual tows, the method comprising the steps of:
- specifying properties regarding the structure into analytical software tools;
- integrating design optimization tools with the analytical software tools to define a closed loop design system, such that the closed loop design system provides a final design;
- providing true 3-D geometric tow definition of individual tows of the composite to the closed loop design system to perform quantifiable computational assessments of common geometric flaws such as tow gaps and overlaps;
- analyzing material properties of tows of each layer of the composite structure by drilling normal to the composite structure in any local area of the composite structure;
- translating the final design into a form understandable by a fiber placement machine;
- and
- using the translated final design in order to manufacture the composite structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.