The Institut fur Kunststoffverarbeitung in Aachen, Germany is undertaking investigations in a simulation program of the process of forming fabricreinforced thermoplastics, in order to attain an efficient instrument for the layout of components as early as in the design stage. The current state of the investigations provides instruments for the determination of several data crucial for industrial applications. These are fiber placement and wall thickness distribution after forming, displacement paths required, interlaminar sliding, minimum blank size required, as well as the heat transfer during forming. Current and future investigations will enhance the program's range of performance. Of particular interest are calculation of three-dimensional anisotropic temperature distribution, of the mechanical characteristic values, as well as of shrinkage and warpage behaviors. As these investigations are concluded, the designer will have a comprehensive computer-assisted engineering system at hand for the layout and dimensioning of components made of fiber-reinforced thermoplastics produced in a forming process. 0 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. heated up to processing temperatures above the melting point of the matrix material and transferred into the forming device. Consequently, the mold is closed, thus obtaining the component. The tool temperature is below melting temperature of the matrix material. In preliminary serial applications, cycle times could be attained of less than 1 min.'
It is necessary, for the case of fiber composite plastics, to determine the interrelations between manufacturing process, component design, and