Process-Induced Deformation of L-Shaped Laminates: Analysis of Tool–Part Interaction

During the curing process of thermoset composites, residual stresses inevitably develop in them and lead to their curing deformation after the manufacturing process. This work was aimed at investigating the effect of tool–part interaction and bending stiffness on the curing deformation of L-shaped composite structures. Therefore, a twostep calculation model was developed. It consists of a numerical model to capture the residual stress due to the tool–part interaction and a viscoelastic model considering the anisotropic material properties. Calculation results were compared with experimental data, and a good agreement was found to exist between them.