The objective of this research is to establish and enhance the existing Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM) process to manufacture high performance composite parts usable in the aerospace industry.
Flat, hat, pi and multi stiffened panels have been manufactured by the VARTM process using AS4-5HS and AS4-8HS carbon fabric, and SI-ZG-5A low viscosity epoxy resin. Silicone-based reusable molds have been designed and developed to manufacture stiffened panels. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) experiments of the SI-ZG-5A resin system were conducted to determine the storage modulus, loss modulus, and the glass transition temperature. The density and fiber volume fraction of manufactured graphite/epoxy panels have been determined.
A three dimensional mathematical model has been developed for flow simulation, and is implemented in the ABAQUS finite element package code. It is used to predict the resin flow front during the infusion process and to optimize the flow parameters. The flow simulation model was validated with experimental findings available in literature. Tensile tests on coupons were performed to determine the elastic constants required for finite element structural analysis. Hat-stiffened panels have been tested under transverse loading and the results were validated by the finite element simulation. A flow monitoring, experimental setup is being developed at UMR. Resin infusion of a flat plate was monitored experimentally using both the video camera and infrared camera --Abstract, page iii
