• Composites Research
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.236-242
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• 2016

In this work, tensile and in-plane shear tests for thermoplastic glass fiber/polypropylene composites were performed at a thermo-forming temperature and their properties were characterized and mathematically expressed by using the non-orthogonal constitutive model. As for the thermo-forming test, half-dome experiments were carried out by varying the usage of a releasing agent and the weight of holders. As results, the optimum final shape having well-aligned symmetry and no wrinkle formation was obtained when the releasing agent was used, and it was found that the careful control of a holding force is crucial to manufacture the healthy product. Furthermore, FEM simulations based on the non-orthogonal model showed similar final shapes and tendency of wrinkle formation with experimental results, and confirmed that wrinkles increase with less holding force and higher punch force is required under high frictional condition.