Advanced numerical tool for composite woven fabric preforming

In this paper, geometrical and mechanical approaches are proposed for the simulation of the draping of woven fabric onto complex parts. The geometrical discrete approach allows to define the ply shapes and fibres orientation in order to optimize the composite structural properties and the continuum meso-structural mechanical approach allows to take into account the mechanical properties of fibres and resin and the various dominating mode of deformation of woven fabrics during the forming process. Some numerical simulations of forming process are proposed and compared with the experimental results in order to demonstrate the efficiency of our approaches.