Volume 20, Issue 4, 2011

LETTER:ANALYSIS OF DEFECTS DURING THE PREFORMING OF A WOVEN FLAX REINFORCEMENT

P. Ouagne^1*, D. Soulat¹, G. Hivet¹, S. Allaoui¹, D. Duriatti²

¹Laboratoire PRISME, University of Orleans, 8 Rue Leonard de Vinci, 45072 Orleans, France

²Groupe Depestele-BP 21,14540 Bourguebus–France, pierre.ouagne@univ-orleans.fr

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed:pierre.ouagne@univ-orleans.fr
Tel: +33 (0) 2 38 41 73 32 Fax: + 33 (0) 2 38 41 73 29

Received 8 February 2011; accepted 18 April 2011

ABSTRACT

This paper presents one of the first experimental investigations to analyze the formability of dry woven preform made of flax yarns. A defect analysis at the preform scale, such as wrinkling or buckling is conducted. This work indicates the mechanisms at the origin of these defects. To form complex shapes without generation of defects, the constitution and the architecture of the yarns constituting the woven fabric should be optimised.

Keywords:Composites, Preforming, flax fabric, Natural Fibres, RTM.