A NUMERICAL STUDY OF NONISOTHERMAL RESIN FLOW IN RTM WITH HEATED UNIAXIAL FIBERS

A numerical model is developed to study the flow of a thermoset resin parallel to a unidirectional, heated fiber array, where the resin visc osity varies with temperature. Steady, incompressible flow is assumed when solving the momentum equation for the velocity parallel to the fi ber tow. Resin temperatures are determined by applying a finite differ encing scheme to the convective energy equation. An iterative approach is used to update the velocity, temperature, and viscosity in the flo w direction. The resulting nonisothermal flow profiles are ''plug-like '' with significant increases in the velocities near the fibers. Compa risons of average total flow times for isothermal and nonisothermal fl ows indicate that, for an epoxy resin at an initial 25 degrees C and t he fibers heated to 100 degrees C, the fill time is equivalent to the isothermal case with the resin held at a constant 50 degrees C.