Pragmatic approach to cure profile enhancement for improved fatigue performance of thermoset matrix composites

The current paper proposes a low cost scheme for enhancement of the fatigue life properties of fibre reinforced composites through minimization of residual stresses induced from the composite cure cycle. The enhancement scheme works on the presumptions that a low processing temperature at the event of resin gelation causes reduced residual stresses. The requirements for material characterization and numerical implementation of the scheme is low compared to optimization schemes available in the literature. The enhancement scheme is implemented and used to produce enhanced two stage cure cycles for a commercially available epoxy resin. (paper)