Viscoelastic distortion in asymmetric plates during post curing

This study aims at understanding the geometrical instability triggered by the residual stresses generated during the manufacturing and post-curing of composites plates. Asymmetric plates with a [0/90] configuration were manufactured by Resin Transfer Molding (RTM). Manufactured plates were reheated free standing in an convection oven to study their behavior at high temperatures. Digital image analysis was used to monitor the plates curvature evolution with time and temperature. The experimental results of this work demonstrates the impact of the resin's viscoelastic behavior on the geometrical distortion generated by residual stresses in asymmetric plates at high temperatures.