3-DIMENSIONAL CHARACTERIZATION OF PULTRUDED FIBERGLASS EPOXY COMPOSITE-MATERIALS

Computer simulation is helpful for understanding the manufacturing of pultruded advanced composites. This research involves a three-dimensio nal examination of the temperature and thermochemical aspects for the manufacturing of cartesian fiberglass-epoxy composite materials. Compa rison of the computer generated predictions were made with experimenta lly measured temperature profiles and the degree of cure obtained usin g a Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC). A numerical model employi ng Patankar's [1] control volume based finite difference technique was employed for solving the governing energy and species equations used to model the entire heating (moving and non-moving) sections of the pu ltruder. This computer model can be utilized to establish functional r elationships between combinations of pull speed, fiber volume, and die temperature profiles and can be employed to refine the pultruder for manufacturing composites, indicating the importance of controlling the processing parameters in producing quality pultruded products. Since this computer simulation is independent of predetermined laboratory va lues in generating results, it can establish the guidelines in the des ign of an advanced pultrusion machine itself, and in orchestrating the future development of advanced composite materials.