Modeling approaches for the decomposition behavior of preconsolidated rovings throughout local deformation processes

Modeling approaches for the decomposition behavior of preconsolidated rovings throughout local deformation processes

Benjamin Gröger, Johannes Gerritzen, Andreas Hornig, Maik Gude

Abstract. This paper investigates two modeling approaches for the simulation of the deformation and decomposition behavior of preconsolidated rovings above the thermoplastic matrix’ melting temperature. This is crucial for capturing the local material structure after processes introducing highly localized deformation such as mechanical joining processes between metal and fiber reinforced thermoplastics (FRTP). A generic finite element (FE) model is developed, incorporating interfaces discretized through either cohesive zone (CZ) elements or Coulomb friction-based contacts. The material parameters for the FE elements are derived from the initial stiffness of a statistical volume element (SVE) at micro scale modelled with an Arbitrary-Lagrange-Eulerian method for three load cases. The CZ properties calculated are based on the shear viscosity of the composite. The CZ and contact modelling approaches are evaluated using three load cases of the SVE, comparing force-displacement curves. Under simple loading conditions, such as normal pressure tension and bending, both methods produce similar results; however, in complex load cases, the CZ approach shows clear advantages in handling interface interactions and shows robust simulations. The CZ approach thus presents a promising method for simulating roving decomposition in FRTP-metal joining applications above the matrix’ melting temperature.

Keywords
Process, Thermoplastic Fiber Reinforced Plastic, Finite Element Method (FEM)

Published online 4/1/2025, 8 pages
Copyright © 2025 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA

Citation: Benjamin Gröger, Johannes Gerritzen, Andreas Hornig, Maik Gude, Modeling approaches for the decomposition behavior of preconsolidated rovings throughout local deformation processes, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 52, pp 268-275, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644903551-33

The article was published as article 33 of the book Sheet Metal 2025

Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.

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