Kinematic Simulation And Verification For Composite Automated Fiber Placement

As an important part of CAD/CAM technology for composite materials automatic fiber placement(AFP), the simulation of AFP process is essential to validate the trajectory planning and the post-processing. Selecting the simulation of AFP process as the research object, this paper aims to establish a framework of simulation software for AFP and solve the visualization problems in all design phases.Firstly, according to the functional design requirements for this software system, the AFP design was divided into phases and the corresponding visual interface was established. Through analyzing the whole design process of AFP, it was divided into four phases: mathematical model establishment, trajectory planning, post-processing and processing simulation. A visualization simulation interface for AFP in each phase was established to validate the design process and results in all phases. Consequently, every phase of AFP design was presented with good human-computer interaction effect to improve the reliability and efficiency of AFP design.Moreover, the information of placement trajectory was summarized and the placement trajectory simulation module based on data format of particular track points was programmed. It was able to simulate various static and dynamic combinations for both center trajectory and multi-track tow trajectory, independent of three-dimensional modeling software. The validation methods of trajectory planning were enriched and the linear simulation of trajectory could reflect the actual situation of AFP more vividly. Afterwards, the kinematic problem of placement mechanism was analyzed and its role in kinematic simulation was stated. Three different kinematic simulation algorithms were compared, which were based on data from track points, NC and both access respectively. The kinematic simulation with a linkage between AFP trajectory drawing and equipment was achieved to simulate the actual AFP process, effectively improving the validation for NC data of AFP.To simulate the design of AFP, the simulation software was developed using Microsoft Visual C + + platform. The AFP trajectory design and post-processing of circular conical shell, warp and weft spherical mirror and plane curve were simulated. And the simulation results were validated by experimental placement. Results turn out that this simulation software is reliable and feasible for controlling the AFP process.