scholarly journals A Comprehensive Assessment of Commercial Process Simulation Software for Compression Moulding of Sheet Moulding Compound

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Connie Cheng Qian ◽  
Abhaye Deshpande ◽  
Mona Jesri ◽  
Richard Groves ◽  
Neil Reynolds ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Process Simulation ◽  
Simulation Software ◽  
Comprehensive Assessment ◽  
Design Tool ◽  
Compression Moulding ◽  
Constitutive Material Model ◽  
Injection Moulding Process ◽  
Moulding Compound ◽  
Sheet Moulding Compound

With a growing interest in the application of carbon fibre Sheet Moulding Compound (SMC), a number of commercial software packages have been developed for the simulation of compression moulding of SMC. While these packages adopt different algorithms and meshing strategies, the constitutive material model and processing control are usually adapted from injection moulding process simulation. Little has been done in the literature for assessing the capabilities of these software as design tools, and more importantly, validating the process simulation results using experimental data. This paper aims to provide an independent and comprehensive assessment of existing well-known process simulation software for SMC compression moulding. The selected software will be compared in terms of material models, and available processing settings in order to determine their robustness as a compression moulding design tool. The predictive accuracy of the software will also be assessed by comparing the compression force and filling patterns against the experimental data.

Experimental investigations and optimization of processibility of sheet moulding compound

2011 ◽  
Vol 31 (2-3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhaskara J.C. Babu ◽  
Sachin Waigaonkar ◽  
Amit Rajput
Keyword(s):  
Penetration Depth ◽  
Flow Behavior ◽  
Glass Fibers ◽  
Zinc Stearate ◽  
Experimental Investigations ◽  
Compression Moulding ◽  
Maturation Time ◽  
Moulding Process ◽  
Moulding Compound ◽  
Sheet Moulding Compound

Abstract Sheet moulding compound (SMC) is a combination of glass fibers and filled polyester resin. It is processed by a compression moulding process and finds extensive applications in structural, automotive, electrical and electronic industries. The compression moulding process is characterized by the flow behavior of SMC under heat and pressure in the press mould. This paper is focused on the prediction of ideal processibility conditions of SMC. The qualitative aspect of a properly thickened (matured) moulding compound could be seen from its tack-free nature, which was quantitatively calibrated in terms of penetration depth, measured by a specially constructed softness indicator. The weight (wt)% of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) as filler, magnesium oxide (MgO) as thickener, graphite (C) and zinc stearate [Zn (C18H35O2)2] (ZnSt) as lubricants along with the maturation time (Tm) were selected as process variables. Taguchi’s scheme of experimental design was adapted to perform the experiments. It was found that the higher levels of MgO and CaCO3 were favorable for a good penetration depth as well as a reduced maturation time. We have also found that a penetration depth of at least 5 mm was required for achieving good processability conditions of SMC. An optimization study was under taken to find the right blend of additives and fillers, at their minimal weights and in the least possible maturation time, to achieve the desired processability. This study is particularly useful in a production run to make moulded parts from SMC.

Manufacturing and Testing of High Performance Sheet Moulding Compound

2008 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 141-144
Author(s):  
Meng Hou ◽  
Lin Ye
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Mechanical Performance ◽  
Processing Conditions ◽  
Compression Moulding ◽  
Burst Test ◽  
Moulding Compound ◽  
Overall Performance ◽  
Tooling Design ◽  
Sheet Moulding Compound

The paper describes the manufacture of thin composite panels using high performance sheet moulding compound (SMC). Topics discussed within the paper include characterisation of curing and flow behaviour of SMC material, tooling design concept and determination of suitable processing conditions for compression moulding. A Full scale “Burst test” was carried out to evaluate the mechanical performance of SMC panels. The overall performance of the SMC panels was satisfactory with all panels failed beyond the specification value. The main failure mode was a through-thickness cracking. In addition, a geometrical non-linear numerical analysis was also carried out to investigate the stress distribution and deflection behaviour of SMC panel during “Burst testing”.

scholarly journals Combination of Carbon Fibre Sheet Moulding Compound and Prepreg Compression Moulding in Aerospace Industry

2014 ◽  
Vol 81 ◽  
pp. 1601-1607 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jens Wulfsberg ◽  
Axel Herrmann ◽  
Gerhard Ziegmann ◽  
Georg Lonsdorfer ◽  
Nicole Stöß ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Fibre ◽  
Aerospace Industry ◽  
Compression Moulding ◽  
Moulding Compound ◽  
Sheet Moulding Compound

Signal Quality Evaluation of Embedded Antennas in Composite Panels

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edin Sulic ◽  
Sabu John ◽  
Brendan Pell ◽  
Wayne Rowe ◽  
Kamran Ghorbani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Evaluation ◽  
Impedance Matching ◽  
Dipole Antenna ◽  
Simulation Software ◽  
Signal Quality ◽  
Composite Polymer ◽  
Moulding Compound ◽  
Embedded Antennas ◽  
Sheet Moulding Compound

In this paper, an attempt is made to evaluate signal performance of an antenna embedded in a viscoelastic thermoset composite polymer commonly known as Sheet Moulding Compound (SMC). Signal quality is investigated by studying the impedance matching and radiation pattern results of an embedded antenna. The investigation was done experimentally and using simulation software CST Microwave Studio. Two types of antenna have been investigated. One being planar inverted conical antenna (PICA) that operates in the range of about 850 MHz to about 10 GHz and the second one being slot dipole antenna that operates in the range of 1.2 GHz to 1.4 GHz. The signal quality was evaluated at four different antenna configurations. Configuration 1 – antenna with 0° angle deformation, configuration 2 – antenna with 22° angle, configuration 3 – antenna with 45° angle and configuration 4 – 90° angle. The effect of these four configurations on signal quality of each antenna is discussed and simulation results are compared to experimental results.

Predicting the surface waviness of sheet moulding compound parts by simulating process-induced thermal stresses

2011 ◽  
Vol 31 (8-9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Walter Michaeli ◽  
Christoph Kremer
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Stresses ◽  
Surface Defects ◽  
Computation Method ◽  
Surface Waviness ◽  
Curing Reaction ◽  
Calculated Stress ◽  
Moulding Compound ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Sheet Moulding Compound ◽  
Good Agreement

Abstract This paper describes an opportunity to compute the surface waviness of compression moulded sheet moulding compound (SMC) parts by simulating residual stresses. First, different types of surface defects occurring on SMC parts are discussed. A method for calculating the surface waviness of the compression moulded part is presented, which combines the simulation of the production process and the structural computation. Modelling of the curing reaction and the development of mechanical properties are discussed and implemented. The potential of the computation method is shown for an automotive fender made of SMC. The results state that the curing reaction of SMC can be well described using the approach of Ng and Manas-Zloczower. The position of the measured waviness on the examined fender is in good agreement with the calculated stress distribution.

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