Citation:
Polymer Composites ’99, October 6-8, 1999, Quebec, Canada
Abstract:
Experimental studies have demonstrated the existence of significant thermal
gradients during the cure stage of Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM). Presence of
such thermal gradients can affect the final degree-of-cure distribution and
cause the development of residual stresses, leading to a deterioration of the
final composite component properties. Therefore the incorporation of heat
transfer modelling in the general context of RTM modelling and monitoring of the
process is necessary. The present work focuses on the application of combined
monitoring and heat transfer modelling to the process. A finite element heat
transfer model incorporating resin cure kinetics has been developed and tested.
An inverse solution of the heat diffusion model has been implemented in order to
extend the local measurements given by in-situ monitoring to global information
about the temperature distribution and the degree-ofcure distribution during the
cure.