CONTROLLED VACUUM INFUSION OF HETEROGENEOUS FIBROUS PREFORMS

摘要

Low repeatability of closed moulding polymer composites manufacturing processes is mainly due to deviations in the flow patterns, from the predicted or idealised flow patterns, during the infusion stage. This, in turn, is due to the limited knowledge of, and an inability to account for, all the factors affecting the fluid flow in simulations. In this paper, it is shown that in many cases, material heterogeneity can also lead to deviating flow patterns. In light of complexities of these processes and the potential improvements offered by an online control system, a closed loop control system consisting of image acquisition, image analysis and computer controlled injection valves is proposed. The development of various stages of the system is reported and the potential of the system is demonstrated through "virtual" experiments.