Modeling and Analyzing of Rolling Contact Behavior Between the Striped Roller and the Tow in Automated Fiber Placement

ABSTRACT The selection of roller types and feeding parameters is critical for the automated fiber placement. However, it has not been extensively explored. In this study, based on contact mechanics and incorporating Fourier series theory, a theoretical model was developed to describe the contact behavior between different striped rollers and the tow in the feeding mechanism. The validity of the model was verified using Laser‐Doppler Anemometry. In addition, a numerical algorithm was proposed to calculate the contact behavior between different striped rollers and the tow. Using this algorithm, the contact behavior under various process parameters was obtained, and the influence of stripe geometric features on the contact behavior was analyzed. The proposed model and algorithm provide theoretical support for the selection of roller types and the optimization of parameters in the feeding mechanism.