High Performance Computing and Modelling of Composite Manufacturing Processessuch as Resin Transfer Molding

摘要

The focus was to understand and model the composite manufacturing process calledResin Transfer Molding (RTM) and develop numerical simulations to move towards virtual manufacturing in an attempt to reduce the prototype costs. Experiments were carried out to understand and isolate the important features of this process and mathematical models were developed to create a process model. These models were incorporated in numerical simulations to make them useful for manufacturing of complex structures. Numerical procedures were also developed in the process to make the simulations stable and faster. The results of numerical simulations were compared with two elaborate experimental programs, a five sided box and a cone, to verify the authenticity of the numerical simulation and the mathematical models. Different versions of the numerical simulation developed are being used at ARL, Aberdeen and by TACOM. This report gives a brief summary of the work and the details of the work are reported as appendices. (MM).