Characterization and simulation of structural fabrics – Part 1: A cross-industry review of approaches to composites engineering

In past years, the role of the fiber converter could be seen as relatively passive. Now, with increasing demand for higher quality structural composites across all industries, the converter's active participation in the supply chain is essential. In this first part of a two-part article Tom James, Director of Innovation at multiaxial reinforcements producer FORMAX, provides some insight into this interaction, and highlights an interesting relationship between manufacturing method, simulation strategy and the availability of relevant material data.