spiralviklede

Spiralviklede is a concept in fiber-reinforced materials engineering describing a helically wound reinforcement strategy in which fibers are laid down around a core or mandrel at a programmable spiral angle that can vary along the length of the part. The term blends the idea of a spiral winding with viklede, a word from Scandinavian languages meaning wrapped or wound. The approach aims to tailor directional properties by controlling the helix angle and its variation.

In practice, a winding machine deposits a continuous fiber tow onto a rotating mandrel while the winding angle is progressively changed according to a predefined schedule. After winding, resin is introduced through prepreg layup, resin infusion, or other curing methods and the assembly is cured to fix the helical architecture. The result is a composite with a designed mix of axial, hoop, and shear stiffness, potentially offering improved damage tolerance through distributed reinforcement.

Key properties of spiralviklede structures include tunable anisotropy, high torsional stiffness, and enhanced impact resistance relative to uniform-winding counterparts. The ability to vary the winding angle along the length allows engineers to create gradients in mechanical response, enabling optimized performance for complex load cases. Limitations involve manufacturing complexity, precise process control to achieve consistent winding angles, resin flow management, and higher tooling costs.

Applications are envisaged across aerospace, automotive, wind energy, and sporting goods, especially in components subjected to combined torsional and bending loads. Spiralviklede remains an area of active research, with ongoing work on modeling, process integration, and reliability assessment. See also filament winding and helically reinforced composites.