Three-dimensional numerical simulation for resin transfer molding of automotive wheel

• Published in: Korea-Australia rheology journal Vol. 31; no. 3; pp. 141 - 147
• Main Authors: Huang, Zheng Min, Lee, So Yun, Kim, Hyung Min, Youn, Jae Ryoun, Song, Young Seok
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Seoul / Melbourne Korean Society of Rheology, Australian Society of Rheology 01.08.2019; Springer Nature B.V; 한국유변학회
• Subjects: Automotive engineering; Automotive parts; Automotive wheels; Carbon fiber reinforced plastics; Carbon-epoxy composites; Case studies; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Complex Fluids and Microfluidics; Computer simulation; Epoxy resins; Fiber preforms; Food Science; Materials Science; Mechanical Engineering; Molds; Polymer Sciences; Resin transfer molding; Robustness (mathematics); Soft and Granular Matter; 공학일반; numerical simulation; void formation; resin transfer molding
• ISSN: 1226-119X; 2093-7660
• DOI: 10.1007/s13367-019-0015-4

Resin transfer molding (RTM) is a manufacturing process that uses liquid resin to saturate a fiber preform placed in a closed mold cavity. For robust fabrication of the composite, fiber preform needs to be completely impregnated with polymer resin during mold filling. Hence, the understanding of resin flow and void formation in RTM is very important to design the mold and processing conditions for successful production of composite parts. In this study, three-dimensional (3D) numerical simulation was carried out to investigate the resin flow behavior in a complicated mold. An automotive wheel rim was designed and fabricated using carbon fiber preform and epoxy resin. Case studies were performed to minimize the void formation during processing.