scholarly journals Numerical simulation of the mould-filling process in resin-transfer moulding

2000 ◽  
Vol 60 (6) ◽  
pp. 845-855 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y.C. Lam ◽  
Sunil C. Joshi ◽  
X.L. Liu
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulation ◽  
Resin Transfer Moulding ◽  
Filling Process ◽  
Mould Filling ◽  
Transfer Moulding

scholarly journals Simulation of Air Entrapment and Resin Curing During Manufacturing of Composite Cab Front by Resin Transfer Moulding Process

2017 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 1839-1844 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raghu Raja Pandiyan Kuppusamy ◽  
S. Neogi
Keyword(s):  
Injection Pressure ◽  
Resin Transfer Moulding ◽  
Optimization Strategy ◽  
Air Entrapment ◽  
Cure Reaction ◽  
Filling Stage ◽  
Mould Filling ◽  
Cure Time ◽  
Simulation Results ◽  
Transfer Moulding

AbstractMould filling and subsequent curing are the significant processing stages involved in the production of a composite component through Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM) fabrication technique. Dry spot formation and air entrapment during filling stage caused by improper design of filling conditions and locations that lead to undesired filling patterns resulting in defective RTM parts. Proper placement of inlet ports and exit vents as well as by adjustment of filling conditions can alleviate the problems during the mould filling stage. The temperature profile used to polymerize the resin must be carefully chosen to reduce the cure time. Instead of trial and error methods that are expensive, time consuming, and non-optimal, we propose a simulation-based optimization strategy for a composite cab front component to reduce the air entrapment and cure stage optimization. In order to be effective, the optimization strategy requires an accurate simulation of the process utilizing submodels to describe the raw material characteristics. Cure reaction kinetics and chemo-rheology were the submodels developed empirically for an unsaturated polyester resin using experimental data. The simulations were performed using commercial software PAM RTM 2008, developed by ESI Technologies. Simulation results show that the use of increase in injection pressure at the inlet filling conditions greatly reduce the air entrapped. For the cab front, the alteration of injection pressure with proper timing of vent opening reduced the air entrapped during mould filling stage. Similarly, the curing simulation results show that the use of higher mould temperatures effectively decreases the cure time as expected.

scholarly journals Experimental Study to Illustrate Flow Control in Presence of Race Tracking Disturbances in Resin Transfer Moulding

2003 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 096369350301200
Author(s):  
Jeffrey M. Lawrence ◽  
Anthony Mahe ◽  
Yeshwanth Rao K. Naveen ◽  
Suresh G. Advani
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Flow Control ◽  
Flow Behaviour ◽  
Resin Transfer Moulding ◽  
Moulding Process ◽  
Control Actions ◽  
Mould Filling ◽  
On Line ◽  
Transfer Moulding

To manufacture composite parts with the Resin Transfer Moulding process, a fluid resin is injected into a mould containing a fibrous preform. Often, due to variations in the preform structure, the flow behaviour can be drastically different from what was anticipated, which may not wet some of the fibrous regions causing dry spots. A common disturbance is race tracking, where the preform does not fit precisely along the mould edge. With the help of sensors, one can track the flow and measure the level of the disturbance in the mould. Decisions can be made on-line to re-direct the flow to avoid dry spots. A methodology was developed to measure the level of the race tracking and implement control actions to compensate for that race tracking disturbance. Fully automated experiments were run several times. For each experiment, although the level of race tracking was unknown beforehand, the controller properly compensated for the race tracking to successfully complete the mould filling.

Cycle Time Reductions in Resin Transfer Moulding Using Microwave Preheating

1995 ◽  
Vol 209 (6) ◽  
pp. 443-453 ◽  
Author(s):  
M S Johnson ◽  
C D Rudd ◽  
D J Hill
Keyword(s):  
Automotive Industry ◽  
Thermal Cycle ◽  
High Volume ◽  
Market Development ◽  
Resin Transfer Moulding ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
Cycle Times ◽  
Mould Filling ◽  
Reinforced Plastic ◽  
Transfer Moulding

Resin transfer moulding (RTM) offers a potential manufacturing source of high-volume, fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) components for the automotive industry. Currently, market development is inhibited by long moulding cycle times which are dominated by the effects of mould quench. Preheating of the thermosetting resin prior to injection would reduce these effects, leading to shorter mould filling and curing times. This paper characterizes the thermal cycle in RTM and outlines the application of microwave technology for resin preheating. Batch preheating of preactivated resin systems is discussed and the development of an in-line microwave resin preheater is described for uncatalysed and catalysed resin systems under steady flow conditions. The integration of an in-line preheating system within a demonstration RTM facility is described and the effects of preheating on the thermal cycle are presented.

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