Modelling and Simulation of Resin Transfer Moulding: A Finite Volume Approach Applied to the Mold Filling Stage

RTM process is widely used for the production of high quality fiber reinforced composites parts. Computer simulations can play an important role in optimization of RTM processes by reducing risks and costs. In this paper, we present a two dimensional mathematical modelling for the mold filling stage in RTM process. It was used a two phase model (air-resin) which neglects the capillary and gravitational effects and considers all phases incompressible. The set of partial differential equations, expressed in boundary-fitted coordinates, are discretized by using the finite volume method and solved using a fully implicit methodology and the Newton's method. To validate the methodology, numerical and experimental data of the filling time and flow front position along the process are compared and good agreement was obtained.