WrapToR composite

truss structures

Chris Hunt, Michael Wisnom,

Ben Woods

CDT Conference 2019

16th April 2019

Wrapped Tow Reinforced truss concept2

Truss geometry Composite materials Winding process

• Move material away from axis of bending

• Members experience primarily axial loading

• Anisotropy can be tailored to maximise efficiency

• Low-cost constituents

• Repeatable

• Highly level of automation

Manufacturing3

• Tow twisting investigation“Flat” “Twisted”

• Concept scaling

• Complex geometries• Non-prismatic

• Curved?

Analysis4

• Trusses modelled using matrix structural analysis techniques• Beam elements for each member

• Joint members allow:• Node displacement

• Introduction of bending moments

Future Work5

• Strength predictions

• Further concept scaling

• Optimisation

• Applications

Thank you

chris.hunt@bristol.ac.uk