Analysis of pressure profile and flow progression in the vacuum infusion process

• Published in: Composites science and technology Vol. 69; no. 9; pp. 1458 - 1464
• Main Authors: Modi, Dhiren, Johnson, Michael, Long, Andrew, Rudd, Christopher
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-07-2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Laminates; Liquid composite moulding; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Polymer-matrix composites (A); Technology of polymers; Textile composites (A); Transport properties (B); Vacuum Infusion; Vacuum Infusion; Textile composites (A); Transport properties (B); Liquid composite moulding; Polymer-matrix composites (A); Laminate; Fiber reinforced material; Pressure distribution; Radial flow; Polymer; Experimental study; Modeling; Composite material; Porous medium flow; Manufacturing process; Vacuum molding; Injection molding; Processing parameter; Pressure measurement; Woven material; Physical Sciences
• ISSN: 0266-3538; 1879-1050
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compscitech.2008.05.026

New experimental set-ups are presented for measuring the pressure profile and fill-times in the Vacuum Infusion (VI) process. In these set-ups, the injection can either be from one of the mould faces (resulting in a rectilinear flow) or from a central port (resulting in a radial flow). From these measurements, the validity of previously reported analytical formulations is investigated. At the start of injection, the experimental results show a marked difference from analytical predictions. However, with flow progression, they change to match with analytical predictions. This phenomenon has not been observed previously and its analysis enhances the current understanding of the process physics, mainly the impact of compliance on the reinforcement thickness and flow progression.