Vakum infüzyonu prosesinde parça kalınlığı varyasyonunun kalıp dolum süresi üzerindeki etkisi

Vacuum infusion (VI) is a common composite molding process to manufacture large parts using vacuum pressure which compacts the fibers and drives the resin flow. A straightforward model has not been developed for the process and hence, current models for the mold filling require a coupled analysis of compaction and flow, and it is not so obvious if this tedious work is worth for the result which could have been calculated with less accuracy however with very simple approach. Due to the plastic vacuum bag in VI, compaction pressure varies within the mold which causes thickness variation in the part. Implementing the thickness variation to the modeling of the process is difficult and it is not clear whether the variation makes a significant difference in the mold filling results. In this study, the effect of the thickness variation was studied further; and a simple and useful model was proposed. Experiments and a model were compared to show if the thickness variation has a significant effect on the mold filling in VI. It was concluded that experimental mold filling time in VI is 13-17% shorter than in RTM (in which thickness is constant). Similar trend was also seen in the simplified coupled models of flow and compaction.