Page 37 - 3D Fibre Reinforced Polymer Composites
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26 30 Fibre Reinforced Polymer Composites
are four separate sequences of row and column motion, shown in Figure 2.15, which act
to interlock the yarns and produce the braided preform. The yarns are mechanically
forced into the structure between each step to consolidate the structure in a similar
process to the use of a reed in weaving. The motion of the rows, columns and take-up
can be altered to obtain preforms with different braid patterns and thus control the
mechanical properties of the preform in the three principal directions.
Figure 2.13 (a) Production of standard braided tubular fabric, (b) Schematic of typical
braid architecture
