VARTM工艺中高渗透导流介质对树脂充填行为的影响

采用可视化流动实验装置,系统研究了高渗透导流介质对真空辅助树脂传递模塑(VARTM)工艺中树脂充填流动行为的影响。实验结果表明,高渗透导流介质只覆盖部分纤维增强体时,铺放在靠注胶端导流效果明显,铺放在靠抽气端导流效果很弱;高渗透导流介质铺放在纤维增强体顶、中和底面任何位置,都会起到良好的导流效果,尤其是铺放在纤维增强体底面时导流效果最好;随着高渗透导流介质层数增加,对树脂充填的导流作用就越好;随着纤维增强体层数的增多,完成充填所需时间就越长,这表明高渗透导流介质导流效果受到增强体厚度的影响。     

导流介质对真空导入模塑工艺树脂流动行为的影响

采用可视化流动实验方法研究了高渗透率导流介质对真空导入模塑工艺中树脂流动行为的影响。结果表明: 导流介质能较大幅度地减少树脂的充模流动时间, 且充模时间随着导流介质使用比例的增加而呈线性减少的关系; 导流介质的提速作用随着预成型体厚度的增加而逐渐减弱; 预成型体上下表面树脂流动前沿位置差距与预成型体厚度呈良好的线性增加关系, 说明导流介质的影响作用具有明显的厚度效应。厚度效应原理为真空导入模塑工艺过程的参数优化和保证制品质量提供了理论依据。      

新型导流介质对树脂流动行为及复合材料性能的影响

研究了新型导流介质在树脂的流动特性,采用真空辅助树脂传递模塑工艺(VARTM),对用新型导流介质和聚乙烯导流介质成型的复合材料的力学性能和抗弹性能进行比较。结果表明,3层叠加的新型导流介质的流动能力与聚乙烯导流介质的相当,新型导流介质存在于复合材料中,对复合材料整体的力学性能和抗弹性能没有大的影响,说明新型导流介质不会影响复合材料的界面性能。     

真空导入模塑工艺纤维预成型体厚度变化和流体压力变化研究进展

纤维预成型体厚度控制问题是真空导入模塑工艺(Vacuum infusion molding process,VIMP)面临的主要挑战之一。综述了国内外关于纤维预成型体压实回弹特性和渗透率特性的研究进展,介绍了VIMP工艺在一维线性流动和二维径向流动时厚度变化的理论模型,分析了流体压力特性方程的求解、流体压力场的分布和流体压力对厚度的影响,指出了Correia推导过程中存在的问题并进行了修正,总结了厚度变化对VIMP工艺及复合材料制品的影响,并对VIMP工艺厚度变化的理论研究和工艺控制进行了展望。     

碳纤维复合材料超声振动辅助RTM工艺的浸润特性

研究了织物类型、纤维体积分数和超声振动对树脂在碳纤维织物中流动特性的影响规律,设计了超声振动辅助RTM工艺过程中单向渗透率测量装置,开展了16组渗透率测试实验,并结合COMSOL软件仿真分析了织物中的树脂流动特性。研究表明,在相同纤维体积分数水平下,斜纹编织物的纤维束间隙通道比平纹织物的更宽,2/2斜纹编织织物渗透率比平纹织物提高了约21.5%。纤维体积分数与织物渗透率呈负相关,其函数关系与半经验公式Kozeny-Carman(KC)方程吻合较好。树脂流动过程中加入超声振动,其超声空化效应、加速度效应和微射流效应作用于纤维丝束表面,提高了织物渗透率约58.2%。有限元仿真模拟了椭圆形和近矩形纤维束截面设计的织物模型的流动过程,结果发现近矩形纤维束截面高流速区域范围更广,流体向纤维布夹层浸渍的速度分量更大。超声作用于织物纤维可能带动纤维丝束蠕动,使纤维束截面趋于近矩形状,从而提高了树脂对纤维织物的浸润性。上述研究结果对优化碳纤维复合材料成型工艺和成型性能具有一定的指导意义。      

国产CCF300碳纤维单向织物液体成型工艺性及其复合材料力学性能

选取国产碳纤维CCF300所制备的2种单向织物,单向无纬织物U3160及单向无屈曲织物KUC160,分别对其预成型体进行压缩特性和渗透特性测试,以研究2种单向织物的液体成型工艺性,并采用树脂传递模塑(RTM)工艺制备2种单向织物/双马来酰亚胺树脂基复合材料,测试并对比其面内力学性能。结果表明:预成型体压缩试验中,嵌套效应受压力及织物层数影响较大,压力越高、层数越多,嵌套效应越显著。U3160织物的嵌套效应较KUC160织物更为明显,在较高压力下,KUC160织物预成型体的纤维体积分数较U3160织物的下降了约20%。渗透率测试结果表明:相比U3160织物,KUC160织物0°方向的渗透率较高,而90°方向的渗透率有所降低;这是由于经编线的绑缚作用能促进0°方向的宏观流动,而阻碍90°方向的微观渗透。此外,KUC160织物的经编线与U3160织物的纬向纱线的导流作用也对渗透率有影响。力学性能试验结果表明:相比U3160织物增强复合材料,KUC160织物增强复合材料0°方向的拉伸、弯曲和压缩性能均有所下降,拉伸强度和弯曲模量降幅最大,分别约为11%和21%;而层间剪切强度有小幅提高,增幅约为8%。      

真空辅助树脂灌注法制备风电叶片树脂的渗透及缺陷

依据真空辅助树脂灌注（Vacuum assisted resin infusion,VARI）技术,对VARI方法制备玻璃纤维/环氧树脂复合材料风电叶片过程中树脂的渗透缺陷形成机制和消除方法进行了研究。结果表明,在环境温度为25℃和初始混合时间为100 min、混合树脂黏度为250 mPas时,树脂的放热温度和渗透性能最佳。导流介质的使用可以降低渗透难度,缩短充模时间。使用6层三轴玻璃纤维缝编织物,并插入一层连续毡做为导流介质,会使导流效果最佳,渗透效果趋于一致,有效的降低边缘效应对树脂渗透的影响。在L7000（叶根到进料口的距离为17 cm）和L19000（叶根到进料口的距离为19 cm）位置处增加树脂进料口,调整模具温度为28℃,可以减少渗透缺陷的形成。      

预成型体纵向渗透率统计模型

预成型体渗透率是LCM工艺重要的材料工艺参数,建立渗透率模型对认识纤维/树脂流动浸润机理,更准确地预报渗透率及优化工艺和材料参数具有重要意义。本文作者以LCM工艺复合材料的微观结构分析为依据,建立纵向渗透率的统计模型,系统研究单向预成型体材料微观结构及参数对其渗透特性的影响规律,并进行了实验验证。      

VIP工艺中L型构件渗透规律的实验研究

VIP(Vacuum Infusion Process)作为一种新型的低成本液体模塑成型技术由于具备一系列优点已广泛应用于大型复合材料零件的生产中。不同于平板构件,VIP工艺中L型构件的渗透特性在各个部分并不均匀。本文通过对L型构件预成型体渗透率进行实验研究,得到了三种几何结构的L型预成型体的渗透规律,由于拐角处纤维被压实使得L型构件的渗透率比相同铺层和相同工艺下平板构件的渗透率小;并采用几何平均方法分析了L型预成型体拐角处的渗透率,对异型结构件VIP工艺的实施具有一定的指导作用。     

真空导入模塑成型工艺的研究进展

真空导入模塑成型工艺(VIMP)因其具有低成本、环保和适于大型制件一次整体成型等优点而成为复合材料成型制备领域的研究热点,并已广泛地应用于船舶舰艇、风电叶片以及建筑工程材料的制造等领域。介绍了VIMP的工艺原理、特点和技术要求,综述了VIMP工艺中树脂流动行为的研究进展以及VIMP工艺的应用进展,并展望了VIMP工艺的研究方向。     

Mathematical Analysis of Resin Flow through Fibrous Porous Media

Resin flow through fiber preforms was analyzed mathematically. Closed form solutions for fiber volume fraction distribution and pressure field during resin infusion into fiber preforms were suggested, and a new effective permeability was defined. The effect of preform compressibility on the fiber volume fraction and pressure distributions in resin-saturated region was investigated analytically. The findings show that the compaction behavior of preforms has significant impact on the resin infusion process. The solutions derived analytically in this study can provide insight into a liquid composites molding (LCM) process.     

Measurement of transverse permeability using gaseous and liquid flow

Accurate measurement of transverse permeability is important for processes such as resin film infusion and vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding. In these liquid composite molding processes the out-of-plane flow is dominant and thus the transverse permeability is needed for flow prediction. This paper introduces an apparatus to measure saturated permeability for fibrous preforms using both gaseous and liquid flow. The setup creates a uniform one-dimensional flow through-the-thickness of the reinforcement by integrating a high permeability layer on the mold surfaces. A wide range of permeability as a function of fiber volume fraction can be measured in one experiment while applying a known load under a hydraulic testing machine. The system has been designed using process simulation. The measurements using the gaseous medium are comparable to the saturated fluid flow results. The measurement system can also be used to measure changes in dry fabric permeability prior to infusion due to debulking or application of binders on the fabric surface.     

In situ measurement and monitoring of whole-field permeability profile of fiber preform for liquid composite molding processes

For liquid composite molding (LCM) processes, such as resin transfer molding (RTM), the quality of final parts is heavily dependent on the uniformity of the fiber preform. However, the conventional permeability measurement method, which uses liquid (oil or resin) as its working fluid, only measures the average preform permeability in an off-line mode. This method cannot be used to create an in situ permeability profile because of fiber pollution. Further, the conventional method cannot be used to reveal preform's local permeability variations. This paper introduces a new permeability characterization method that uses gas flow to detect and measure preform permeability variations in a closed mold assembly before resin injection. This method is based upon two research findings: (1) resin permeability is highly correlated with air permeability for the same fiber preform with well-controlled gas flow, and (2) the whole-field air permeability profile of a preform can be obtained through measuring the pressure field of gas flow.In this study, first the validity of the gas-assisted, in situ permeability measurement technique was established. Then the technique was demonstrated as effective by qualitatively detecting non-uniformities and permeability variations in fiber performs. Finally, a two-dimensional flow model, based on the finite difference scheme, was developed to quantitatively estimate the whole-field preform permeability profile using predetermined pressure distribution. The efficacy of the new method was illustrated through experimental results.     

A Two-layer Model for the Simulation of the VARTM Process with Resin Distribution Layer

Vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) is one of the important processes to fabricate high performance composites. In this process, resin is drawn into the mold to impregnate the fiber reinforcement to a form composite. A resin distribution layer with high permeability was often introduced on top of the fiber reinforcement to accelerate the filling speed. Due to the difference of the flow resistance in the resin distribution layer and the reinforcement as well as the resulting through thickness transverse flow, the filling flow field is intrinsically three-dimensional. This study developed a two-layer model with two-dimensional formulation to simulate the filling flow of the VARTM process with a resin distribution layer. Two-dimensional flow was considered in each layer and a transverse flow in the thickness direction was estimated between the two layers. Thermal analysis including the transverse convection was also performed to better simulate the temperature distribution.     

Three-dimensional reconstruction of resin flow using capacitance sensor data assimilation during a liquid composite molding process: A numerical study

Liquid composite molding (LCM) is a method to manufacture fiber-reinforced composites, where dry fabric reinforcement is impregnated with a resin in a molding apparatus. However, the inherent process variability changes resin flow patterns during mold filling, which in turn may cause void formation. We propose a method to reconstruct three-dimensional resin flow in LCM, without embedding sensors into the composite structure. Capacitance measured from pairs of electrodes on molding tools and the stochastic simulation of resin flow during an LCM process are integrated by a sequential data assimilation method based on the ensemble Kalman filter; then, three-dimensional resin flow and permeability distribution are estimated simultaneously. The applicability of this method is investigated by numerical experiments, characterized by different spatial distributions of permeability. We confirmed that changes in resin flow caused by spatial permeability variations could be captured and the spatial distribution of permeability could be estimated by the proposed method.     

Analysis of non-isothermal mold filling process in resin transfer molding (RTM) and structural reaction injection molding (SRIM)

In this paper, we present a modeling and numerical simulation of a mold filling process in resin transfer molding/structural reaction injection molding utilizing the homogenization method. Conventionally, most of the mold filling analyses have been based on a macroscopic flow model utilizing Darcy's law. While Darcy's law is successful in describing the averaged flow field within the mold cavity packed with a porous fiber preform, it requires experiments to obtain the permeability tensor and is limited to the case of porous fiber preform-it can not be used to model the resin flow through a double porous fiber preform. In the current approach, the actual flow field is considered, to which the homogenization method is applied to obtain the averaged flow model. The advantages of the current approach are: parameters such as the permeability and effective heat conductivity of the impregnanted fiber preform can be calculated; the actual flow field as well as averaged flow field can be obtained; and the resin flow through a double porous fiber preform can be modelled. In the presentation, we first derive the averaged flow model for the resin flow through a porous fiber preform and compare it with that of other methods. Next, we extend the result to the case of double porous fiber preform. An averaged flow model for the resin flow through a double porous fiber preform is derived, and a simulation program is developed which is capable of predicting the flow pattern and temperature distribution in the mold filling process. Finally, an example of a three dimensional part is provided.     

缝合夹层结构复合材料树脂传递模塑成型工艺充模仿真

对复合材料与金属经缝合连接形成的夹层结构板的树脂传递模塑成型（RTM）工艺进行了充模模拟研究。首先通过实验和数值计算的方法,分别获得缝合夹层结构织物和芯层孔洞的渗透率;随后,建立能够反映缝孔内流动情况的二维和三维简化模型,进行RTM充模仿真,讨论不同工艺参数对成型流动的影响;最后通过成型实验验证工艺的可行性。缝线与孔洞直径之比为0.3~0.8时,孔洞渗透率随缝线直径的增大而减小,预制体织物渗透率与孔洞渗透率相差两个数量级;缝孔内容易产生缺陷,没有缺陷的区域随着注射压力的增加、孔洞密度和芯层厚度的减小而增大,在芯层表面沿每排孔洞单向开槽能够改善树脂在孔洞内的浸润;线注射时,树脂整体流动情况优于点注射,而点注射时,将进胶口设置在一角,能够减少表面干斑。