Influencing Parameters in the Deep Drawing of Fiber Metal Laminates with Low Viscous Matrix

Multi-materials, such as fiber metal laminates, offer several advantages over monolithic materials, i.e. the possibility of tailoring the material properties. The in-situ hybridization process combines deep drawing and thermoplastic resin transfer moulding (T-RTM) to manufacture fiber metal laminates with complex geometries in a single process step. However, due to strong fluid-structure interactions between fabric, metal and the low viscous matrix during forming and infiltration, other parameters besides those in pure metal deep drawing affect the process and part quality. Therefore, the influence of blank holder force, injection time, punch velocity and matrix viscosity on the process is experimentally investigated on part scale. The manufactured parts are subsequently assessed by measuring the metal blank surface strains and the thickness of the glass fiber reinforced layer to evaluate the forming behavior and matrix flow. Based on these findings, the most influential parameters and parameter interactions during the deep drawing of fiber metal laminates with a low viscous matrix are identified, and their influence on the process is discussed.