Study on the validation of ring filament winding methods for unidirectional preform ply manufacturing

Abstract Ring filament winding enables processing of continuous fibers for manufacturing unidirectional non-crimp unidirectional preform plies on straight-, curved-, or closed-mandrel geometries. However, unidirectional processing of tows can lead to increased lateral tow slippage. The objective of the present study is thus to validate unidirectional winding methods for ring filament winding, performing geodesic and non-geodesic trajectories analytically and experimentally. Implementation of geodesic paths investigates the influence of the tensile force and take-up velocity on the winding angle reproducibility. Non-geodesic winding paths are conducted here dependent on winding methods, slippage coefficients, and the mandrel’s surface materials, evidencing the occurrence of lateral tow slippage by measurements of nip-point forces. Findings indicate an excellent reproducibility of geodesic paths independent of the process velocity. Non-geodesic paths were partially validated because of the occurrence of lateral tape-slippage and a tape side-inclination effect, correlating an increased stick behavior to higher local normal pressure.