Process variation simulation of a skin-based model for compliant parts in composite material: numerical and experimental results

To properly manage uncertainty since conceptual design of complex product, next generation geometry assurance requires simulation models to realistically consider process signatures due to the manufacturing process. In this paper, a simulation and skin-based approach, able to generate the variability model for a component in composite material due to its manufacturing process, is presented. It generates a skin-based model of the manufactured part. The skin model discretizes the part surfaces by points to take into account the geometric deviations, those points are the nodes of finite element analysis (FEA) used for tolerance analysis of compliant assemblies. It was applied to an L-shaped and a flat laminates in composite material and the obtained results showed a good agreement with the experimental data.