Dependence of the reinforcement anisotropy on a three dimensional resin flow observed by X-ray radioscopy

We described an experimental technique, which can be used to measure simult aneously the three principal permeabilities of fiber reinforcement made of short or long fibers. This original technique utilizes the X-Ray radioscopy for detecting the position of the liquid front inside of the preform. An a nalysis of the different experimental results allowed us to measure, explai n and justify the influence of the various parameters related to the flow c onditions, the mold geometry and the reinforcement material structure. The experimental study proves that this technique is not limited by high anisot ropy factors. We obtain good agreement between results of this visualizatio n technique and numerical simulation of the resin flow.