Model for vacuum infusion moulding process

• The vacuum infusion moulding process is becoming increasingly popular for large surface area components. The reasons for this interest are the obvious environmental advantages of the process and also the economic benefits that can be obtained. The modelling of the process remains poorly developed and hence optimisation of the process is difficult. Existing models for resin transfer moulding can not be applied since the flexible vacuum bag and the varying pressure inside the mould cavity creates a varying cavity thickness during impregnation. A useful simulation model must incorporate this phenomenon. In the present work a one-dimensional model for the vacuum infusion moulding process has been described. This model was derived assuming that an elastic equilibrium holds in the mould cavity during mould filling. The constitutive model describing the compressive behaviour of the reinforcement is a simple power law model while the permeability is modelled with the Kozeny-Carman equation. Both models are fitted to experimental data from independent experiments. Agreement between the simulation model results and experiments with vacuum infusion of a flat plate is very good. However, it is concluded that additional work is required both on the numerical model and on constitutive modelling of the compression behaviour of the fabric

Ämnesord

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Maskinteknik -- Energiteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Mechanical Engineering -- Energy Engineering (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Energiteknik

Energy Engineering

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)