<p>There is a demand to ramp up the rate of production of primary aerostructures and as such new processing methods are required. This study investigates a two-stage process for integrating composite structures. In Stage 1, a series of doublers are infused and semi-cured to a target degree of cure (<i>α</i>). In Stage 2, these doublers are integrated into a preformed stiffened panel, to increase thickness locally, followed by infusion. The impact of this integration on quality in terms of thickness and void content of the semi-cured doublers is assessed through the processing stages. The results indicate that semi-curing elements to a higher degree of cure (<i>α</i> = 0.74) around the gel point (<i>α</i> = 0.70) of the epoxy matrix have minimal impact on the relative quality of the final structure. However, at a lower semi-cure (<i>α</i> = 0.47), the void (&gt; 100&#xa0;µm) content increased from 0.8 to 1.92% during the secondary stage. Tracking the thermal profile of the semi-cured elements through the stages combined with a Cure-Temperature-Transition diagram shows that at a lower degree of cure, the resin in the semi-cured doublers will be in a liquid phase during Stage 2 leading to the potential for resin reflow.</p>

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The effect of semi-cured elements on the quality of integrated composite structures

  • Arjun Radhakrishnan,
  • Mark Mavrogordato,
  • Petar Zivkovic,
  • Turlough McMahon,
  • James Kratz

摘要

There is a demand to ramp up the rate of production of primary aerostructures and as such new processing methods are required. This study investigates a two-stage process for integrating composite structures. In Stage 1, a series of doublers are infused and semi-cured to a target degree of cure (α). In Stage 2, these doublers are integrated into a preformed stiffened panel, to increase thickness locally, followed by infusion. The impact of this integration on quality in terms of thickness and void content of the semi-cured doublers is assessed through the processing stages. The results indicate that semi-curing elements to a higher degree of cure (α = 0.74) around the gel point (α = 0.70) of the epoxy matrix have minimal impact on the relative quality of the final structure. However, at a lower semi-cure (α = 0.47), the void (> 100 µm) content increased from 0.8 to 1.92% during the secondary stage. Tracking the thermal profile of the semi-cured elements through the stages combined with a Cure-Temperature-Transition diagram shows that at a lower degree of cure, the resin in the semi-cured doublers will be in a liquid phase during Stage 2 leading to the potential for resin reflow.