Experimental and numerical investigation of a non-crimp 3D orthogonal weave E-glass composite reinforcement forming process

In this work, the formability of a single layer E-glass non-crimp 3D orthogonal woven reinforcement (commercialized under trademark 3WEAVE® by 3Tex Inc.) is investigated. The study is focused on the experimental and numerical investigation of the forming process of the 3D fabric on complex 3D shape moulds. The experimental study is dedicated to the main deformation mechanisms of the 3D fabric: in-plane tension (uniaxial and biaxial), in-plane shear, transverse compression and transverse bending. Moreover, the experimental activities are centred on the forming process on two moulds, i.e. tetrahedral and double-dome shape. The numerical modelling of the 3D forming process is based on a hyperelastic constitutive model. The model is adapted and implemented to study the considered non-crimp 3D orthogonal woven reinforcement. The comparison of the finite element simulations and experimental results demonstrates the adequacy of the hyperelastic model to describe the deformation mechanisms involved during draping and to predict the global behaviour of the non-crimp 3D woven reinforcement during complex shape forming.