Some recent advances in the fabrication and design of three-dimensional textile preforms: a review

The design of textile composites requires a systematic approach that integr ates microstructural design, preform fabrication and composite processing t o produce load-bearing structural components with desired fiber architectur es and mechanical properties. At the present time, an established integrate d approach has yet to be realized; however, towards this end, a substantial body of research has been conducted. The purpose of this review is to deta il the progress made toward realizing an integrated approach in the design and manufacture of three-dimensional textile preforms. The survey begins by identifying the recent advances in textile manufacturing with particular a ttention paid to new developments in multi-axial weaving, multi-axial warp knitting, stitching and braiding along with their potential advantages and limitations. A summary of the various preform manufacturing techniques corr esponding to the basic load-bearing structural elements is then given. Addi tionally, limited examples demonstrating the geometric constraints inherent with these techniques and their associated process windows are discussed. Finally, a brief mention of some of the analytical models developed to pred ict the thermoelastic properties of three-dimensional textile composites is made. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.