Method for the Microstructural Characterisation of Unidirectional Composite Tapes

Journal article (2021)

Authors

N. Katuin Aerospace Manufacturing Technologies - Aerospace Engineering
D.M.J. Peeters Aerospace Structures & Computational Mechanics - Aerospace Engineering
C.A. Dransfeld Aerospace Manufacturing Technologies - Aerospace Engineering
Research Group
Aerospace Manufacturing Technologies (Aerospace Engineering) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2021 N. Katuin, D.M.J. Peeters, C.A. Dransfeld
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs5100275
Composites Characterisation Microstructure Composites Voronoi tessellation Microstructure characterisation
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Published Date

2021

Language

English

Faculty

Aerospace Engineering

Department

Aerospace Structures & Materials

Research Group

Aerospace Manufacturing Technologies

Abstract

The outstanding properties of carbon fibre-reinforced polymer composites are affected by the development of its microstructure during processing. This work presents a novel approach to identify microstructural features both along the tape thickness and through the thickness. Voronoi tessellation-based evaluation of the fibre volume content on cross-sectional micrographs, with consideration of the matrix boundary, is performed. The method is shown to be robust and is suitable to be automated. It has the potential to discriminate specific microstructural features and to relate them to processing behaviour removing the need for manufacturing trials.