Development of the properties of a carbon fibre reinforced thermosetting composite through cure

In this paper, the development of physical and mechanical properties of a thermosetting composite which are relevant to the modelling of residual stresses and process induced deformations are discussed. Findings of previous work on cure kinetics and cure shrinkage of the composite are summarized. The development of resin modulus throughout the Manufacturer’s Recommended Cure Cycle (MRCC) is modelled by Group Interaction Modelling (GIM). The moduli of AS4/8552 composite are calculated by two micromechanics methods: by an analytical approach based on the Self Consistent Field Micromechanics (SCFM) and by Finite Element Based Micromechanics (FEBM). The predictions show good agreement with the available experimental data and provide a fundamental understanding of how the properties of a thermoset resin and its composite develop through cure.