Influence of Curing Parameters on Curing Residual Stresses and Mechanical Properties of Composite Laminates Under Uniaxial Tension

Carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites are widely used in the aerospace industry. The residual stresses generated during the curing process significantly affect their mechanical properties. In this study, a multi-field coupled simulation of curing and subsequent uniaxial tension is performed on CFRP laminates with different curing parameters. First, the curing process is simulated to obtain the residual stress distribution in the composite. Then, the residual stresses are introduced as initial stresses for the subsequent loading step. The influence of curing parameters on the mechanical properties of composite laminates under uniaxial tension is analyzed. The results show that the temperature of the first holding stage has a significant effect on the residual stresses. When the temperature is set to 383 K, 403 K, or 413 K, the curing residual compressive stress exceeds the critical value of −50.424 MPa, and the ultimate tensile strength of the laminates decreases by approximately 20.7%. However, the large residual compressive strain also delays the initiation of matrix tensile damage, postponing the initial failure displacement from 1.025 mm to about 1.111 mm. When the holding time of the second stage varies between 80 min and 160 min, the residual stress after curing and the tensile strength of the laminates remain almost unchanged. This study provides a basis for selecting curing parameters of composite materials and offers new insights into improving their mechanical properties.