Modelling of the Monolithic Stiffener Forming Process from a Paek Thermoplastic Composite Matrix Using Pam-Form Software

The growing use of thermoplastic composites in aviation, automotive, sports and medical industries is forcing the development of processing technology. Due to the properties of thermoplastic composite materials, their shaping is subject to many restrictions. For this reason, it is not always possible to obtain components with complex geometry and adequate quality. By using numerical analysis and experience in the production of parts using hot pressing technology, we are able to predict the course of the process and the behaviour of the material during formation. The article describes how to build a model for numerical analysis of the process of thermoforming monolithic inspection door stiffening for an ILX-34 aircraft using a Toray Cetex® TC1225 carbon composite material with a thermoplastic polyaryletherketone (PAEK) matrix. Pam-Form v2019.0 software version V1.9.N was used for modelling. The results of the analysis were compared with those of the part produced by the Institute of Aviation, Łukasiewicz Research Network.