Radial flow permeability measurement. Part B: Application

This paper deals with permeability measurement in the context of Resin Tran sfer Moulding (RTM). A new approach to two-dimensional radial flow permeabi lity measurement with constant inlet pressure is proposed in part A of this paper. In this second part experimental studies are performed to validate the new approach. The new approach is shown to accurately predict the orien tation of the tensor axes. It was demonstrated how the convergence chart ca n be used to check whether the experimental results follow the underlying a ssumptions of the model. Examples are given of acceptable and unacceptable measurements. Experimental design is introduced to investigate the Variatio n of measured permeability between individual experimental runs. It was con cluded that most of the observed Variation was the result of flow front mea surement sensors used in the experiment. Finally the new approach is compar ed with current methods. Differences are discussed. It is shown that the ne w approach extends the capabilities of current methods. (C) 1999 Elsevier S cience Ltd. All rights reserved.