Macroscopic forming simulation of unidirectional non-crimp fabrics: Hyperelastic material modeling and 3D-solid-shell approach

Forming a flat stack of engineering textiles into a complex three-dimensional shape is the first step in various liquid composite molding processes for manufacturing continuous fiber-reinforced plastics. Forming significantly impacts subsequent process steps and a final component’s structural behavior. This work presents an experimental analysis of the relevant deformation mechanisms of non-crimp fabrics during forming and consequent development of efficient macroscopic modeling approaches.