Process modelling of 3D hexagonal braids

The hexagonal braiding is a novel 3D braiding technique that can generate a large family of complex fiber architectures for composite preforms. In order to fully exploit this technology, a fiber architecture based model was constructed connecting the braiding process parameters with the resulting fabric structures through machine emulation. First, an oblique coordinate system is established according to the loom arrangement, which is the foundation to digitalize the braiding process. Then, an algorithm is proposed to trace the carrier path through the calculation on digitalized braiding process parameters. Finally, with a knowledge of the relationship between the carrier path and yarn trajectory, a simulation tool was developed to generate fabric structures from the input braiding process parameters. The simulation results were verified by experiments and discussions were made on the effect of process parameters on the fiber architecture.