The manufacturing process of Sheet Molding Compound (SMC) influences the properties a component in non-deterministic fashion. To predict this influence on mechanical performance, we develop virtual chain acting as digital twin for SMC specimens from compounding to failure. More specifically, inform structural simulation with individual fields orientation and volume fraction computed direct bund...

To provide a seamless integration of manufacturing processing simulation and fiber microstructure modeling, two new stochastic 3D microstructure reconstruction methods are proposed for two types of random fiber composites: random short fiber composites, and Sheet Molding Compounds (SMC) chopped fiber composites. A Random Sequential Adsorption (RSA) algorithm is first developed to embed statisti...

We have developed a mulch sheet made by inflation molding of PLA, Ecoflex((R)) and modified starch, which all have different biodegradabilities. A field test of use as an agricultural mulch sheet for mandarin oranges was carried out over two years. The mechanical properties of the mulch sheet were weakened with time during the field test, but the quality of the mandarin oranges increased, a res...

Viscoelastic materials for plastic encapsulated molding compounds invariably exhibit a time-dependent stress response to an imposed constant strain, which is called stress relaxation. Stress relaxation tests with molding compounds used to encapsulate microcircuits have been performed to measure the time dependent non-linear constitutive relation between stress and strain as a function of temper...