Optimisation of mould filling parameters during the compression resin transfer moulding process

Abstract

manufacture of composite materials. In this process, a fibrous preform is first placed in a mould and then the mould is partially closed. The resin is then injected, before the mould is finally closed fully, driving the fluid through any remaining dry regions in the fabric. Finally, the resin is allowed to cure and the part is de-moulded. A number of manufacturing parameters affect the efficiency and cost of the CRTM process. Principal amongst these are the fluid injection pressure, the velocity at which the mould is closed and the thickness of the preform at which the resin is first injected. The goal of this study was to optimise the choice of the manufacturing parameters, such that the process time was kept short and the maximum force necessary to close the mould was kept low. This non-linear non-convex multi-objective optimisation problem was solved using a genetic algorithmic approach, with the algorithm interacting with SimLCM, a composites manufacturing process simulation software developed at the University of Auckland. Full-scale analyses were carried out, providing valuable information, regarding process parameters to use, for manufacturers.