摘要:
An apparatus for use in the production of fiber reinforced polymer composite structures includes a mold having a mold surface and a fiber construction on the mold surface including at least one layer of resin absorbing fibrous lay up material. A stiffener on the fiber construction is constructed of a resin absorbing material. A flexible, resin impervious vacuum bag lays over the mold surface and is marginally sealed to the mold surface to define an enclosure for the fiber construction and stiffener. The vacuum bag has a resin inlet to permit introduction of a resin into the enclosure. A vacuum is drawn upon the enclosure to draw the vacuum bag against the fiber construction and stiffener. The stiffener spaces the vacuum bag from the fiber construction when the vacuum bag is drawn against the fiber construction and stiffener to facilitate the distribution of resin uniformly throughout the fiber construction. The stiffener is integrated with the fiber construction upon curing of the resin.
摘要:
A system and method for simulating LCM mold filling utilizes at least one processor, suitable RAM and storage memory, input means, display means, and logic for simulating the injection of resin into a mold cavity containing a preform based upon mold cavity design parameters, mold filling processing parameters, physical property parameters, and system processing parameters, and identifying the current state of selected mold filling conditions at selected points in time during the simulated mold filling process. The system includes logic for identifying incipient dry spots, and also preferably includes means for interrupting the operation of the program at selected points to vary selected parameters to eliminate incipient dry spots and otherwise maximize the mold filling process. The system may additionally include logic for determining whether the output from a mold filling simulation satisfies a set of predefined criteria to determine whether a particular mold design and/or filling process is acceptable for use in production and, if so, record the approved mold filling process parameters for transfer and input to an RTM mold control. Alternatively, the system may be incorporated into a conventional mold control for direct input of developed mold filling process parameters into the control for use in operating the mold to produce liquid composite plastic parts.