Numerical and experimental analysis of resin flow and cure in resin injection pultrusion (RIP)

This work presents the results of modeling, numerical simulation, and exper imental study of resin flow and heat transfer in the resin injection pultru sion (RIP) process. A control volume/finite element method (CV/FEM) was use d to solve the flow governing equations, together with heat transfer and ch emical reaction models. Resin viscosity, degree of cure, and fiber stack co mpressibility and permeability were measured in order to understand their i nfluences on the process. An analytical flow model has also been developed based on the one-dimensional flow approximation for the resin flow in the i njection die. A high-pressure small-taper injection die was tested with dif ferent line speeds. Experimental data were used to verify the simulation re sults and the analytical solutions.