Knitted fabric reinforcement

Ko, F.K., Oastorc, C.M., Yang, J.M. and Chou, T.W. (1986). Structure and properties of multi-layer, multidirectional warp knit fabric reinforced composites. In Composites 86 Recent Advances in Japan and the United Slates, Japan Society for Composite Materials, Tokyo. 

Gommers B, Verpoest I. Tensile behaviour of knitted fabric reinforced composites. In Proceedings of the 10th international conference on composite materials (ICCMIO), vol. IV. Canada Whistler 1995. pp. 309—16. 

Ramakrishna S. Characterization and modeling of the tensile properties of plain weft-knit fabric-reinforced composites. Compos Sci Tech 1997 57 1-22. 

Rios CR, Ogin SL, Lekakou C, Leong KH. A study of damage development in a weft knitted fabric reinforced composite part 1 - experiments using model sandwich laminates. Compos Appl Sci Ma /2007 38(7) 1173-793. 

Gommers B, Verpoest I, van Houtte P. Analysis of knitted fabric reinforced composites part 1. Fibre distribution. Compos Appl Sci Afaww/1998 29 1579-88. 

X. Li, and S. Bai, Sheet forming of the multy-layered biaxial weft knitted fabric reinforcement. Part 1 On hemispherical surfaces. Compos. A 40, 766-777 (2009). 

Zaixia F, Zhangyu YC, Haim L. Investigation on the tensile properties of knitted fabric reinforced composites made from gf-PP commingled yam preforms with different loop densities. J Thennoplast Compos Mater 2006 19 113—26. 

Lim T C, Ramakrishna S and Shang S M (2000) Strain field of deep drawn knitted fabric reinforced thermoplastic composite sheets, J Mater Process Technol 97 95 99. 

Cheng, K.B., Ramakrishna, S., Lee, K.C., 2000. Electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of copper/glass fiber knitted fabric reinforced polypropylene composites. Compos. A Appl. Sci. Manuf. 31 (10), 1039-1045. http //dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1359-835X(00)00071-3. 

So far, the bulk of literature has concentrated on characterizing the mechanical properties of both thermosetting- - - and thermoplastic-based - knitted composite materials. The modeling of the mechanical properties (mainly stiffness and tensile) has also been popular. However, limited literature exists on the forming property characteristics of knitted fabric-reinforced thermoplastics - and their processing properties are still poorly understood. In fact, most of the literature on forming properties deals with unidirectional, - mostly woven and, to a lesser extent, braided reinforcements, rather than knitted reinforcements. 

The manufacture of hemispherical domes is well established, particularly in the field of composites, as a method of assessing the relative ability of the materials and processes to produce doubly curved shell components. In the case of knitted fabric-reinforced thermoplastics, some of the key parameters relevant to product manufacture are (i) material strain behavior (stretching V5. draw-in), (ii) surface finish, (iii) gross wrinkling and buckling of the sheet material, and (iv) interply shear in the laminate. 

This investigation has yielded a number of findings relating to the deformation behavior of knitted fabric-reinforced thermoplastic sheets, as well as conclusions regarding practical forming issues. It has also delved into the underlying mechanisms responsible for its unique behavior, both essential for the development and future use of these types of materials. 

S. D. Pandita, D. Falconet, I. Verpoest (2002) Impact properties of weft knitted fabric reinforced composites, Compos. Sci. Technol. 62,1113. 

P. V. Houtte, I. Verpoest, B. Gommers (1998) Analysis of knitted fabric reinforced composites part I. Rbre orientation distribution. Composites A 29,1579. 

S. Ramakrishna, H. Hamada, K. B. Cheng (1997) Analytical procedure for the prediction of elastic properties of plain knitted fabric-reinforced composites. Composites A 28,25. 

N. Takano, Y. Ohnishi, M. Zako, K. Nishiyabu (2001) Microstructure-based deep-drawing simulation of knitted fabric reinforced thermoplastics by homogenization theory, Int. J. Solids Structures 38,6333. 

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