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Materials Characterisation and Analysis for Flow Simulation of Liquid Resin Infusion

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Abstract

Liquid Resin Infusion (LRI) processes including VARI and VARTM have received increasing attention in recent years, particularly for infusion of large parts, or for low volume production. This method avoids the need for costly matched metal tooling as used in Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM) and can provide fast infusion if used in combination with flow media. Full material characterisation for LRI analysis requires models for three dimensional fabric permeability as a function of fibre volume content, fabric through-thickness compliance as a function of resin pressure, flow media permeability and resin viscosity.

The characterisation of fabric relaxation during infusion is usually determined from cyclic compaction tests on saturated fabrics. This work presents an alternative method to determine the compressibility by using LRI flow simulation and fitting a model to experimental thickness measurements during LRI. The flow media is usually assumed to have isotropic permeability, but this work shows greater simulation accuracy from combining the flow media with separation plies as a combined orthotropic material. The permeability of this combined media can also be determined by fitting the model with simulation to LRI flow measurements. The constitutive models and the finite element solution were validated by simulation of the infusion of a complex aerospace demonstrator part.

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Acknowledgements

This work was partially undertaken within the CEC Framework VII project INFUCOMP (Contract 233926) and the support of the CEC is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Flugzeugbau, Universität Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 31, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany

    J. Sirtautas & A. K. Pickett

  2. Brigham Young University, 265 CTB, Provo, UT, 84602, USA

    A. George

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  1. J. Sirtautas
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  2. A. K. Pickett
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  3. A. George
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Correspondence to J. Sirtautas.

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Sirtautas, J., Pickett, A.K. & George, A. Materials Characterisation and Analysis for Flow Simulation of Liquid Resin Infusion. Appl Compos Mater 22, 323–341 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10443-014-9411-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10443-014-9411-6

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