Transient thermal analysis of the flanged composite plate using Ansys Composite Cure Simulation (ACCS)

The article investigates the effects of different types of curing profiles on the minimum curing time and the degree of cure gradient during the curing process. Experimental data obtained by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were fitted to the cure kinetic model using multiple non-linear regression analysis. The estimated kinetic parameters were then implemented in ANSYS composite cure simulation (ACCS) within the Workbench module to analyze matrix curing behavior in transient thermal analysis. A design of experiments (DOE) study has been conducted to optimize curing parameters for the shortest curing time and lowest cure gradient. Based on DOE optimization, the optimal parameters were identified as an initial temperature of 52.93 degrees C, a heating rate of 0.5 degrees C/min, a final temperature of 80 degrees C, and a dwelling time of 82.52 minutes. The total curing time from the analysis was 0.31% lower than the optimization result, while the cure gradient was 3.86% lower. The validated curing simulation offers manufacturers a cost-effective advantage, minimizing experimental workload.Highlights Multiple non-linear regressions were used to estimate curing kinetic parameters. The Khoun and DiBenedetto models were used to obtain the curing kinetic model. The effects of the curing profiles on the curing gradient were investigated. A DOE study was performed to optimize the curing time and curing gradient.