Characterising the variability in wrinkling during the preforming of non-crimp fabrics

The preforming of textile reinforcements during composite manufacturing is subject to significant variability, which affects the predictability critical defects such as wrinkles in component. Therefore, wrinkling variability needs be quantified so that it can accounted for production and process simulations. This study characterises behaviour a biaxial non-crimp fabric hemispherical under various conditions. A characterisation method developed decouples quantifies wrinkle amplitude location. results show architecture specific forming layup have influence on both location with being more sensitive changes than variability. applied characterise surface or variables thus used benchmarking tool processes.