Six Sigma and Mathematical Modelling for Symmetric Composite Parts Design

This paper applies the Six Sigma DMAIC methodology to improve the production of symmetric composite parts, in our case composite pipes, focusing on their quality requirement of high interior pressure resistance. The filament winding process has been utilized to enhance the industrial process by developing mathematical models of fiber movement paths, resulting in the creation of symmetrical composite parts like pipes and tanks. It analyzed the importance of the fiber winding angle while maintaining the other process factors that were taken to be constant. Based on the mathematical models created for fiber path and pipe design, symmetrical composite samples, or composite pipes, were made with different winding angles (45° and 90°). For all manufactured composite samples, laboratory tests were conducted on the hoop tensile strength to ensure they met the quality requirements for composite pipes, specifically their resistance to high internal pressure. The predicted behavior of symmetrical composite parts (composite pipes) was found to align with the results of the tests conducted on the produced samples. Keywords - Six Sigma, Mathematical models, Path design, Symmetric composites, Filament winding process, Composite pipes, Hoop tensile strength