Simulation of mono-ply and multi-ply woven composite reinforcements forming

The numerical simulation of composite forming permits to envisage the feasibility of a process without defect but also to know the directions of the reinforcements after shaping. These directions condition strongly the mechanical behaviour of the final textile composite structure. In addition, the angles between warp and weft yarns influence the permeability of the reinforcement and thus the filling of the resin in the case of a liquid moulding process. The forming of composite reinforcement can be made on a single ply or simultaneously on several plies. In this paper the different approaches for the textile reinforcement forming simulation are described. A three node element with arbitrary directions of the yarns with regard to the element sides is presented and used for the simultaneous hemispherical forming of three layers.