A 1D COUPLED CURING AND VISCO-MECHANICAL VOID GROWTH MODEL OF THICK THERMOSETTING COMPOSITE LAMINATES

摘要

In the production of composite laminate parts, Vacuum Infusion (sometimes referred to as Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Moulding (VARTM)) is widely used in the manufacture of large structures such as wind turbine blades. Vacuum infusion is a closed mould process in which resin is pulled into the mould by applying a vacuum at the outlet vent, consequently impregnating dry pre-laid fibres in the mould cavity. Vacuum infusion differs from conventional autoclave-RTM in the sense that no external hydrostatic pressure is applied which helps inhibit void growth during the final consolidation of the resin matrix with the fibres.