• Elkington, M.
• Chatzimichali, Anna
• Potter, K.
• Ward, Carwyn

Abstract

<p>Hand layup is still widely used in the composites industry, yet it has changed little over the past few decades. This is the first attempt to study in detail the effects of modifying the layup process. An alternative two stage approach to layup is proposed, where the majority of the shear deformation is applied prior to plies contacting the tool. The new process is trialled by three participants on three separate layup tasks. Using video analysis to study the process, it was shown that the key tasks of manipulating the prepreg sheets around doubly curved features and creating in plane shear during layup were dramatically 'simplified'. This resulted in a large reduction in the use of specialist techniques, a significant time saving and a reduction in the likelihood of defect generation.</p>

Topics

• impedance spectroscopy
• composite
• defect