Global Stiffness of a SMC Panel Considering Process Induced Fiber Orientation

Abstract

A material model, that translates into a stiffness matrix, the second order fiber orientation tensor, described by Advani and Tucker, and the stiffness matrix of a composite with aligned ellipsoidal inclusions, has been implemented in a FE programme and validated. The stiffness of a SMC panel with known state of fiber orientation is calculated using FEM. The influence of process induced fiber orientation is analysed. The fiber orientation for a realistic charge pattern for the panel has been obtained through mould filling simulation in a separate project. It is found that the fiber orientation has a rather small impact on the global stiffness. Only 0.8% lower stiffness compared to isotropic material model is obtained taking into account the fiber orientation distribution. The main reason for the low impact of the process induced fiber orientation is that the charge is symmetrically placed in the mould leading to a symmetric fiber orientation distribution.