RP124 -
Resin Flow Front Reconstruction with Applications to Resin
Transfer Molding (RTM), U.S.Army Research Laboratory, Shawn
M. Walsh; CDEF Associates, C.E.Freese
ABSTRACT
The development
of a new class of sensors has permitted composite materials
researchers and engineers alike to obtain further insight on
both the process and material used in composite fabrication.
This sensor data can be used in several critical capacities,
including fundamental observation of process/material phenomena
and interaction, validation of increasingly sophisticated process
simulations, and as a source of feedback in an on-line process
control system. However, if one is to fully realize the potential
of sensor data, provisions must be made to manipulate it as
repidly and as meaningfully as possible. This paper presents
the results of a recently developed numerical smoothing algorithm
that, upon application to a field of retrieved sensor data,
is capable of substantially enhancing visualization of resin
flow during the resin transfer molding (RTM) process. This
methodology will directly impact both observation of "wet" composite
processes as well as provide a stream of sufficiently rich
data to calculate and implement intelligent control decisions.
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RP128 -
A New Instrument for Monitoring the Resin Flow Front in RTM
and Other Resin Infusion Processes, Micromet Instruments,
David D. Shepard
ABSTRACT
Monitoring of
the resin flow during the part filling of resin infusion processes
is critical because the flow is responsible for the final mechanical
properties of the part. A new commercially available resin
flow front analysis system is being introduced based on technology
developed by the U.S.Army Research Laboratory. The system is
used for the in-process monitoring of resin flow and cure in
Resin Transfer Molding (RTM), SCRIMP®, vacuum assisted
RTM, and other resin infusion processes. The system consists
of a sensor grid, and electronics package designed to rapidly
interrogate the grid, and a Windows-based software program
to control, record, and display the sensor data. The system
measures the electrical properties at intersecting nodes of
conductive wires or fibers that are manually laid out in the
mold to form a grid pattern. When resin reaches each node,
the electrical properties of that node will change and are
recorded by the system to provide a map of the part filling
process. The subsequent resin gel and onset of cure can also
be detected.
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RP129 -
Resin Flow Front and Cure Detection in RTM and other Resin
Infusion Processes, Holometrix Micromet, David D. Shepard
ABSTRACT
Monitoring of
the resin flow during the part filling of resin infusion processes
is critical because the flow is responsible for the final mechanical
properties of the part. A resin flow front analysis system
been introduced based on technology developed by the U. S.
Army Research Laboratory. The system is used for the in-process
monitoring of resin flow and cure in Resin Transfer Molding
(RTM), SCRIMPÂ, vacuum assisted RTM, and other resin infusion
processes. The system consists of a sensor grid, an electronics
package designed to rapidly interrogate the grid, and a Windows-based
software program to control, record, and display the sensor
data. The system measures the electrical properties at intersecting
nodes of conductive wires or fibers that are manually laid
out in the mold to form a grid pattern. When resin reaches
each node, the electrical properties of that node will change
and are recorded by the system to provides a map of the part
filling process. The subsequent resin gel and onset of cure
can also be detected. The data obtained with the system is
not as sensitive to the end of cure as traditional AC resistance
measurements.
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RP131 -
Large Scale Implementation of Flow and Cure Sensing in a
Thermoset Resin Infused Composite Structure, Roderic Don,
Karl Bernetich, and John W. Gillespie, Jr., University of
Delaware's Center for Composite Materials; Bruce K. Fink,
U.S. Army Research Lab; Michael Louderback, Northrop Grumman
Corporation
ABSTRACT
A highly successful
demonstration of resin flow and cure sensing using the U.S.
Army Research Lab's patented SMARTweave imbedded sensor technology
was done on an Advanced Technology Transit Bus (ATTB) subcomponent
at Northop Grummans's El Segundo plant. The part was fabricated
using single-sided tooling, and consisted of a multi-layered
woven preform, sandwiched around a foam core, which was infused
with resin in a modified VARTM-type process. The flow of resin
into portions of the part not visible to the eye was readily
detected. This experiment was the largest application to date
of the SMARTweave technology, and was performed by researchers
from the University of Delaware's Center for Composite Materials.
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