Development of Manufacturing Technology for Cab Front Using Resin Transfer Molding Process

Abstract

The development of a new composite product through resin transfer molding (RTM) process requires the identification of an effective injection strategy and optimization of the process variables and raw material parameters of the manufacturing process. This article presents an effective manufacturing technology for a cab front model using RTM isothermal mold-filling simulation technique. The simulations performed were based on the finite element method for which a commercial RTM simulation package was utilized. A number of isothermal mold-filling simulations using different injection strategies and process variables were carried out. Injection strategy using constant flow or pressure was executed to find optimum locations for injection ports and air vents requiring minimum mold -fill time. The effect of process variables, such as injection pressure, and raw material parameters, such as resin viscosity and mat permeability, on the mold-filling time was also studied. The simulation results show that the injection strategy of four injection points on the front face and four vents at the corners of the cab front with constant pressure of 5 atm delivers an optimum mold-fill time of 32 min without dry spots.