NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Modeling the VARTM Composite Manufacturing ProcessA comprehensive simulation model of the Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Modeling (VARTM) composite manufacturing process has been developed. For isothermal resin infiltration, the model incorporates submodels which describe cure of the resin and changes in resin viscosity due to cure, resin flow through the reinforcement preform and distribution medium and compaction of the preform during the infiltration. The accuracy of the model was validated by measuring the flow patterns during resin infiltration of flat preforms. The modeling software was used to evaluate the effects of the distribution medium on resin infiltration of a flat preform. Different distribution medium configurations were examined using the model and the results were compared with data collected during resin infiltration of a carbon fabric preform. The results of the simulations show that the approach used to model the distribution medium can significantly effect the predicted resin infiltration times. Resin infiltration into the preform can be accurately predicted only when the distribution medium is modeled correctly.
Document ID
20040073448
Acquisition Source
Langley Research Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Song, Xiao-Lan
(University of Southern Illinois Carbondale, IL, United States)
Loos, Alfred C.
(Michigan State Univ. East Lansing, MI, United States)
Grimsley, Brian W.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Cano, Roberto J.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Hubert, Pascal
(McGill Univ. Montreal, Quebec, Canada)
Date Acquired
September 7, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2004
Subject Category
Nonmetallic Materials
Meeting Information
Meeting: SAMPE 2004 Symposium and Exhibition
Location: Long Beach, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: May 16, 2004
End Date: May 20, 2004
Sponsors: Society for the Advancement of Materials and Process Engineering
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NCC1-01037
OTHER: 719-55-TB
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
No Preview Available