Finite element modeling of curing of epoxy matrix composites

✍ Scribed by Xiangqiao Yan

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2006
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 202 KB
• Volume: 103
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0021-8995
• DOI: 10.1002/app.24337

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

A two‐dimensional finite element model is developed to simulate and analyze the mechanisms pertaining to resin flow, heat transfer, and consolidation of laminated composites during autoclave processing. The model, which incorporates some of the best features of models already in existence, is based on Darcy's law, the convection–diffusion heat equation, and appropriate constitutive relations. By using a weighted residual method, a two‐dimensional finite element formulation for the model is presented and a finite element code is developed. Numerical examples, including a comparison of the present numerical results with one‐dimensional and two‐dimensional analytical solutions, are given to indicate the accuracy the finite element formulation. Moreover, using the finite element code, the one‐dimensional cure process of a laminate made of 228 and 380 plies of AS4/3501‐6 unidirectional tape is simulated and numerical results are compared with available experimental results. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 2310–2319, 2007