Experimental and predicted in-plane flow height measurements for stiffenedstructures made using the resin film infusion process

To manufacture stiffened structures using the RFI process it is desirable t o be able to predict the possible flow height up the stiffeners for the des ired resin film and preform configuration. Such a prediction can be made by flow simulation using a finite element, control volume simulation. However , this can be time-consuming, and therefore the aim of this work was to dev elop a simple technique to predict the possible flow height. Dynamic viscos ity data was measured for two RFI resins using the heat-up rate expected in manufacturing. A flow height prediction was made based on Darcy's Law and the dynamic viscosity curve. A standardised T-stiffened panel experiment wa s used to verify the resin flow height up the stiffener, using different re sin films. Close agreement was shown between the predicted and experimental results.