Simulation and experimental analysis of autoclave co-curing CFRP hat-stiffened panels with silicone airbag mandrels

The inflatable mandrel is easy to be broken and wrinkled during the co-curing process of the hat-stiffened wall panels. The metal mandrel is difficult to demold, the water-soluble mandrel is easy to be broken, and the pressure transmission uniformity of the silicone mandrel with preformed apertures is difficult to ensure during the manufacturing process. To solve these problems, a new process for co-curing carbon fiber-reinforced polymerhat-stiffened panels based on silicone airbag mandrel was proposed in this paper. The co-curing process of the hat-stiffened panels was simulated using finite element software and the effects of silicone airbag mandrels with different thicknesses on the thickness and pressure of the parts were studied by establishing a thermo-force-flow multi-field coupling finite element model, and found that the thickness and pressure of the parts were relatively uniform during the manufacturing process of the new method. The correctness of the finite element model was verified by the autoclave co-curing experiment. At the same time, it demonstrated the feasibility of a new process of autoclave co-curing CFRP hat-stiffened panels with silicone airbag mandrels. This new process greatly improved the accuracy of the carbon fiber-reinforced resin matrix composite hat-stiffened panels compared to conventional processes.