Numerical Methods For 3D Compressive RTM Simulations

The extensive use of composite materials in automotive structural components with high mechanical requirements is today limited by different concerns such as production rates. The compressive resin transfer molding process (C-RTM) is one amongst others composites manufacturing processes which could overcome this limitation enabling the reduction of the production time of composite parts.

Today, several simulation tools are used in the industry to perform LCM process simulations such as PAM-RTMTM. Nevertheless, some functionalities are still missing to address advanced manufacturing processes such as C-RTM. Indeed, for C-RTM simulation, two main issues need to be tackled:

• the resin gap evolution during the forming due to the moving tool;
• the preform deformation due to compression and resin flow.

This paper presents advanced numerical methods for 3D compressive compressive RTM simulations developped by ESI Group in partnership with HONDA R&D.

17th EUROPEAN CONFERENCE ON COMPOSITE MATERIALS (ECCM), 26-30 June – Munich, Germany