Integrated Product and Process Design for Resin Transfer Molded Parts

Abstract

Resin transfer molding (RTM) is an attractive composite processing method due to its potential for providing consistently superior parts at low costs. The RTM process involves a large number of variables related to the product and process performance. In this study, an integrated product and process design (IPPD) approach is developed and implemented to optimize RTM product and process design variables for good part quality and process performance. Genetic algorithms (GA), in conjunction with the cascade correlation neural network architecture (CCA-NN), are utilized to establish a model that predicts and optimizes performance and quality of RTM parts. The integrated product and process design approach is implemented and illustrated with experimental data.