A review of numerical simulation of cure-induced distortions and residual stresses in thermoset composites

Cure-induced distortions and residual stresses influence application of composites. Accurate prediction for cure-induced distortions and residual stresses can provide a basis for adjustment of composites structure and process design to reduce the cure-induced distortions and residual stresses. Numerical simulation method was widely adopted due to its simplicity and high prediction accuracy. The sub-models of heat transfer-cure, flow-consolidation and stress-distortion in numerical simulation for cure-induced distortions and residuals stresses in composites were mainly introduced, with a particular emphasis being on state-of-the-art research on the constitutive law and tool-part interaction in the sub-model of stress-distortion. This paper aims at proposing the orientation and reference for the prediction of cure-induced distortions and residual stresses. The future development of cure-induced distortions and residual stresses was discussed.