As a result of their high specific strength and stiffness, advanced polymer-matrix composites have meanwhile become indispensable as construction materials for lightweight structures. The basic and application-oriented research activities at the PCCL in the field of short and continuous fiber-reinforced polymer composites cover the entire value chain, from the raw material via processing technology to the resulting material structure on various length scales (“from the test coupon to the component”). At the same time, process simulation and structural analysis of fiber reinforced polymers complete the research activities in this group. For this purpose commercially available finite element software as well as specially developed finite element tools based on analytical material models are used.
This working area includes the following research topics:
- Development of novel resin formulations and research on fiber-matrix adhesion (e.g. fiber reinforced natural polymers)
- Deformation and failure behavior of composites under static and high strain rate loading conditions as well as under impact and fatigue loads
- Development of novel simulation approaches based on the finite element method for the structural analysis of braided composites
- Development and Implementation of a strain-rate dependent continuum damage model for the crash analysis of fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites
- Structural integrity and durability of adhesively bonded composite joints
- Further development of simulation tools for the draping and forming simulation of pre-impregnated fibrous composite materials
