Resin infusion in porous preform in the presence of HPM during VARTM: Flow simulation using level set and experimental validation

This paper presents an experimentally validated model to simulate the nonisothermal resin infusion and cure processes in a relatively large and thick composite laminate fabricated using vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding. Compaction effects were accounted for by using a step-wise scheme wherein the panel was divided into three discrete zones along the flow direction, with each zone being assigned different porosities and other material properties. The experimentally observed dynamic evolution of the resin flow front profile due to permeability difference between the high-permeable infusion medium and the glass-fiber preform as well as the heat transfer in the preheated system was captured accurately. Both model predictions and experimental measurements indicate subtle variation in the spatiotemporal distributions of temperature and degrees of resin cure from the infusion stage can result in large differences in the resin cure profile across the laminate, which may cause undesirable residual stresses in large composites.

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Improved conservative level set method for free surface flow simulation

Journal of Hydrodynamics ◽

10.1016/s1001-6058(14)60035-4 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 316-325 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Lan-hao Zhao ◽

Jia Mao ◽

Xiao-qing Liu ◽

Xin Bai ◽

J. J. R. Williams

Keyword(s):

Free Surface ◽

Level Set Method ◽

Level Set ◽

Flow Simulation ◽

Free Surface Flow ◽

Surface Flow ◽

Conservative Level Set

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Vacuum infusion in porous preform with different mould configurations: Flow simulation and experimental validation

Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites ◽

10.1177/0731684420960209 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 073168442096020

Author(s):

Debabrata Adhikari ◽

Suhasini Gururaja ◽

Santosh Hemchandra

Keyword(s):

Level Set ◽

Flow Model ◽

Transient Flow ◽

Volume Fraction ◽

Compaction Pressure ◽

Fibre Volume Fraction ◽

Flow Simulation ◽

Fibre Volume ◽

Compression Tests ◽

Vacuum Infusion

The present work focuses on the formulation of transient incompressible resin flow during vacuum-assisted resin transfer moulding using level set front tracking method in a multi-block structured grid within a finite difference framework. Initially, the relation between compaction pressure and fibre volume fraction ([Formula: see text]) has been established by conducting compression tests using a universal tensile machine under dry and wet conditions. In-plane permeability has been characterised as a function of [Formula: see text] using three thicknesses of unidirectional carbon fabric (4, 8 and 12 plies). A pressure data acquisition system and a non-contact out-of-plane displacement measurement setup have been developed using a single lens camera to conduct the vacuum infusion experiments. The numerical model prediction of the instantaneous change in pressure, displacement, and fill time has been validated with the experiments for the three different thickness of unidirectional preform in a flat plate and a plate with a centrally located hole during vacuum infusion. The coupled transient flow model with the level set interface propagation in a multi-block framework shows a good agreement with vacuum infusion experiments. The proposed transient vacuum infusion flow model, compaction relation with [Formula: see text], permeability and experimental setup show the potential to capture realistic flow physics during vacuum infusion on different mould configurations.

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