Feasibility of tow winding with partial pre-curing and in situ consolidation for curved composite laminates

Carbon fiber-reinforced polymers are increasingly employed in load-bearing structures such as thick reservoirs, pipes or flywheels where cure-induced defects can impair performance and dimensional accuracy. This study investigates whether interlaminar performance and microstructure quality are preserved in tow-wound composites fabricated via partial pre-curing and in situ compaction, which proved to mitigate the risk of thermal overshoot and stress build-up. A proof-of-concept manufacturing line is developed to produce wound rings under varying pre-cure and compaction conditions. Interlaminar performance is evaluated through short-beam and double cantilever beam tests, supported by microscopy. Results show void contents below 3%, although the fiber volume fraction (33%-41%) remains lower than for prepreg references (53%-58%). Interlaminar properties are comparable between tow-wound and prepreg laminates, with no significant degradation due to pre-curing or compaction. The results demonstrate that partial pre-curing combined with local compaction does not degrade interlaminar performance, supporting the feasibility of such strategies for efficient and automated manufacturing.