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Autoclave processing for composite material fabrication. 1: An analysis of resin flows and fiber compactions for thin laminateHigh quality long fiber reinforced composites, such as those used in aerospace and industrial applications, are commonly processed in autoclaves. An adequate resin flow model for the entire system (laminate/bleeder/breather), which provides a description of the time-dependent laminate consolidation process, is useful in predicting the loss of resin, heat transfer characteristics, fiber volume fraction and part dimension, etc., under a specified set of processing conditions. This could be accomplished by properly analyzing the flow patterns and pressure profiles inside the laminate during processing. A newly formulated resin flow model for composite prepreg lamination process is reported. This model considers viscous resin flows in both directions perpendicular and parallel to the composite plane. In the horizontal direction, a squeezing flow between two nonporous parallel plates is analyzed, while in the vertical direction, a poiseuille type pressure flow through porous media is assumed. Proper force and mass balances have been made and solved for the whole system. The effects of fiber-fiber interactions during lamination are included as well. The unique features of this analysis are: (1) the pressure gradient inside the laminate is assumed to be generated from squeezing action between two adjacent approaching fiber layers, and (2) the behavior of fiber bundles is simulated by a Finitely Extendable Nonlinear Elastic (FENE) spring.
Document ID
19860006800
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Contractor Report (CR)
Authors
Hou, T. H.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Date Acquired
September 5, 2013
Publication Date
November 1, 1985
Subject Category
Composite Materials
Report/Patent Number
NASA-CR-178011
NAS 1.26:178011
Accession Number
86N16270
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 505-63-01-01
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS1-18000
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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