Study of flow-induced fiber in-plane deformation during high pressure resin transfer molding. (June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhao, Selina; Rodgers, William R; Frieberg, Bradley; Newaz, Golam
• Is Part Of: Journal of composite materials. Volume 55:Number 15(2021)
• Page Start: 2103
• Page End: 2114
• Publication Date: 2021-06
• Subjects: HP-RTM -- carbon fiber fabric architecture -- advance manufacturing -- fiber-tow washout -- structural application; Composite materials -- Periodicals; Composites -- Périodiques; 620.118
• DOI: 10.1177/0021998320987600
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9983

Abstract

High Pressure Resin Transfer Molding (HP-RTM) is a new variant of composite Resin Transfer Molding (RTM) process that enables a short cycle time and a high composite strength to weight ratio, thus presents a great potential for fabricating automotive structural parts. Due to the high injection pressure, fiber-tow washout is becoming one of the major defects which impact the properties of composite materials. To predict and mitigate the fiber-tow washout problem, approaches of both experimental process optimization and computational prediction are essential. In this paper, an experimental study of fiber-tow washout is undertaken to determine the flow injection limits beyond which the preform deformation can be observed at various fiber volume fractions. A feasibility map is developed for a specific fabric and resin combination. It provides a means to determine the injection rates and fiber volume fractions to fabricate a quality part with minimal in-plane fiber washout due to the hydrodynamically flow-induced force during the HP-RTM process.