A Method for the Selective Reinforcement of Natural Fiber Composites Considering Manufacturing Constraints

Natural fiber composites (NFC) present a promising approach to cope with current challenges caused by the climate change, such as resource scarcity and the need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. However, the comparatively poor mechanical properties of natural fibers require an intelligent solution to achieve sufficient component stiffness. One possible approach are hybrid NFC by combining natural fibers with carbon fiber (CF) tapes. In this work, a method for the calculation of load path-oriented CF tapes for the selective reinforcement of NFC components is proposed. Unidirectional stress states are identified and combined by means of a stress cluster algorithm. Criteria to evaluate the orientation and stress effectiveness of stress clusters are defined. Finally, selected stress clusters are approximated by the geometry of the CF tapes considering the manufacturing constraints of the dry fiber placement process. Selective reinforcements are calculated for a seat structure and compared with other reinforced seat designs. Further research to extend the proposed method is suggested.