Experimental characterization methods and numerical models of woven composite preforms: A review

The formation of woven preforms is crucial for the quality and performance of textile composites produced through the Liquid Composite Molding (LCM) process. However, the structure of the preform inevitably undergoes deformations during the weaving and forming processes, such as compression, misalignment, even wrinkle defects. Advanced experimental methods and effective numerical approaches are keys for characterizing the deformation behavior and revealing the underlying mechanisms of the woven preforms in the forming process. Initially, this review presents classical woven composite preforms. Then, advanced experimental methods for the woven preforms are provided and discussed based on the applied load. Moreover, numerical analysis approaches for preforms are summarized at different scales. Based on the above summaries, future research trends for experimental methods and numerical analysis approaches of woven preforms are proposed. These trends include the integrated multi-means characterization of deformation, improved mechanical tests, and simulation models combining machine learning algorithms and finite element methods.