Automated fiber placement path generation method based on prospective analysis of path performance under multiple constraints

A new path generation method is proposed to alleviate the contradiction between direction deviation and fiber wrinkles on complex surface. A critical radius index is first presented to characterize the fiber wrinkle constraint. Then, a mathematical model is established to describe the variation of the direction deviation and steering radius of the path. The existence criteria of the placement direction range that can satisfies the two constraints simultaneously is determined. And the placement direction at each path point is obtained considering the path performances at both the current point and the subsequent point. The comparative study with other two common path generation methods is carried out on an inlet surface. The evaluation results show that the steering radii of the paths generated by the proposed method are all larger than the critical radius, while the direction deviation is constrained within 10°.