Friction Behavior between Carbon Fiber Plain Weave and Metal Semi-Cylinder Tool

The deformations that occur during composite forming processes are governed by the friction between the fabrics and tooling material on the mesoscopic level. The effect of normal load and multi-plies on the frictional behavior of the carbon plain weave is investigated by simulating the friction between the fabric and metal semi-cylinder tool by using the experimental method. The periodic wavy friction-displacement curve between the metal tool and fabric is caused by the interwoven structure of the fabric. Both the increase in the normal load and the number of layers cause an increase in the real contact area during friction, leading to an increase in the friction force. The real contact area is calculated based on the Hertzian contact model and the self-designed testing method. The friction force values obtained from multiplying the real contact area with shear strength are closely aligned with the measured results.