Two-stage numerical approach for reliable recognition of dry spots at the VAP infusion of large composite parts of complex shape

Abstract

Technologies for the production of polymer composites based on vacuum infusion have attracted more and more attention of engineers and scientists due to the simplicity and low cost of technological equipment. However, the industrial use of these technologies requires a large number of preliminary trial tests to ensure the stable quality of manufactured structures due to the high sensitivity of the process to its temperature/pressure schedule and layouts. This feature makes it urgent to develop computer modeling systems that allow to correctly describe the dynamics of the infusion process. The proposed approach is based on the use of the phase field equation as a ruling one that provides a better accuracy in describing the shape of the moving resin front in a three-dimensional preform of complex geometry comparing to the traditionally used in modeling the Finite Element/Control Volume (FE/CV) method. The precise localization and shape determination of emerging non-impregnated dry spots in the final stage of the vacuum infusion of the composite structure is possible using an auxiliary software module for postprocessing of the simulation results. The presented modeling results demonstrates abilities of developed technique that can be effectively used to provide a good repeatability of the infusion process and stable quality of the manufactured composite parts.