Experimental and Numerical Verification of Continuous Carbon-Fibre Additively Manufactured Structures

• Published in: Modelling
• Main Authors: Ivica Smojver, Darko Ivančević, Fran Ušurić, Moritz Kuhtz, Andreas Hornig
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2026-05-01
• Subjects: additively manufactured continuous fibre-reinforced composite; numerical modelling; experimental testing; continuous carbon fibre; micromechanics
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2673-3951/7/3/94

This study investigates the mechanical behaviour of continuous carbon-fibre-reinforced additively manufactured composite structures aimed at applications in aeronautical structures, through a combination of experimental testing and numerical simulation. Tensile, compressive, and shear tests established stiffness and failure characteristics, while finite element analyses were used for a preliminary calibration-based reproduction of the measured coupon response, with an emphasis on the initial elastic part of the impact event. The integration of measured data with structural modelling provides a clearer understanding of load transfer and damage initiation in continuous-fibre AM, supporting more accurate simulation-based design of additively manufactured composite components. Experimental results show pronounced anisotropy, and a stable, rate-dependent impact response. The preliminary numerical model based on CT-derived homogenized properties accurately reproduces the initial part of the measured quasi-static and dynamic responses.