An experimental and simulation-based analysis of resin flow front during fabrication of lightweight composite components using VARTM process

Abstract

Vacuum assisted resin transfer moulding process is gaining attention in different sectors for lightweight polymer matrix composites. This article is focused on the determination of the permeability of the manmade reinforcements with a rectilinear method. In the rectilinear method, the permeability was determined using a tracked flow front during the resin infusion process. The composite fabrication was carried out using three reinforcements. The permeability was determined for five different stacking sequences viz. C-12, G-12, A-12, (CGA)4 and (C2G2A2)2. For a similar experimental condition, a simulation study was performed using ANSYS fluent. In a transient mode simulation, the permeability results were used as input for the flow front simulation. From the experimental and simulation approach, it was found that as the permeability increases the mould filling time is decreases. The comparison of the simulation and experimental data of the flow front is reported in the present article.