USE OF STRATEGIC CONTROL WITH MULTI-LINE INJECTION SYSTEM FOR ON-LINE FLOW CONTROL OF THE RESIN TRANSFER MOLDING PROCESS

摘要

This paper focuses on the mold filling stage of the Resin Transfer Molding Process (RTM), exploring the benefits offered by a versatile, multiple-line resin injection system. Three lines of individually controlled injection have been developed from one resin source, each providing servo control of either injection pressure or flow-rate. Development of the equipment and the control algorithms used are presented. Flow visualization experiments are conducted with flow detection sensors, providing necessary feedback information about the current state of filling. Numerical process simulations were used extensively to design the mold cavity, the strategic controller, and to formulate the sensor-based injection schemes, which were experimentally validated demonstrating the benefits of on-line control of the mold filling process.