Influence of process parameters on the interlaminar shear strength of CF/PEEK composites in-situ consolidated by laser-assisted automated fiber placement

The influence of process parameters, including placement speed, laser power, tooling temperature, compaction force and tape tension, on the interlaminar shear strength of CF/PEEK components in-situ consolidated by laser-assisted automated fiber placement was systematically investigated. To examine both the individual and interactive effects of these parameters, two sets of orthogonal experiments were formulated and conducted, yielding a maximum ILSS of 70.3 MPa. Analysis of variance revealed that the interaction between laser power and placement speed had the most significant effect, followed by tooling temperature, compaction force and tape tension. Furthermore, the concept of linear energy density of consolidated segments (LEDCS) was introduced to characterize and quantify the relationship between laser power and placement speed. ILSS values exceeding 50 MPa were predicted within the LEDCS range of 1.58 J/mm to 3.75 J/mm. Finally, the failure modes of the samples were elucidated through scanning electron microscopy.