Transverse Flow and Process Modeling on the Polymer Composite with 3-Dimensionally Stitched Woven Fabric

In resin infusion process(RIP), the fiber and the resin are in contact with each other for an impregnation step and often results in flow-induced defects such as poor fiber wetting and void formation. Resin flow characteristics in transverse direction and process modeling for woven fabric were studied, and the process modeling was applied to the manufacturing of hybrid composite materials. This study also considered the compressibility of woven fabrics in a series of compression force, and it was fitted well to an elastic model equation. Void formation was varied with the processing conditions in the stage of manufacturing composites using RIP. It was concluded from this study that proper combination of pressure build-up and dynamic heating condition makes important factor for flow-induced composite processing.