TY - JOUR
T1 - Out-of-autoclave prepreg consolidation
T2 - Coupled air evacuation and prepreg impregnation modeling
AU - Helmus, Rhena
AU - Centea, Timotei
AU - Hubert, Pascal
AU - Hinterhölzl, Roland
PY - 2016/5/1
Y1 - 2016/5/1
N2 - Out-of-autoclave prepregs produce low-porosity parts through a complex consolidation process that includes air evacuation through a partially impregnated microstructure and subsequent resin infiltration flow. In this article, we propose, develop, and validate the first model describing this consolidation process by computing the thickness change of the material during processing. The air evacuation period is first simulated as a function of fiber packing and pressure conditions. Then, the cure period is described by modeling flow and compaction phenomena. Model predictions are compared to several experimental case studies, which show that the effect of most material properties and process parameters is well captured, and used in parametric studies to identify key trends.
AB - Out-of-autoclave prepregs produce low-porosity parts through a complex consolidation process that includes air evacuation through a partially impregnated microstructure and subsequent resin infiltration flow. In this article, we propose, develop, and validate the first model describing this consolidation process by computing the thickness change of the material during processing. The air evacuation period is first simulated as a function of fiber packing and pressure conditions. Then, the cure period is described by modeling flow and compaction phenomena. Model predictions are compared to several experimental case studies, which show that the effect of most material properties and process parameters is well captured, and used in parametric studies to identify key trends.
KW - computational modeling
KW - consolidation
KW - Prepreg
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84962259863&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0021998315592005
DO - 10.1177/0021998315592005
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84962259863
SN - 0021-9983
VL - 50
SP - 1403
EP - 1413
JO - Journal of Composite Materials
JF - Journal of Composite Materials
IS - 10
ER -