A numerical modelling for resin transfer molding (RTM) process and effective thermal conductivity prediction of a particle-filled composite carbon-epoxy

摘要

The objective of this paper is to develop a global modelling approach, that simulates both the resin transfer molding (RTM) manufacturing and the prediction of the effective thermal conductivity (ETC) of a carbon-cpoxy (CE) laminated composite reinforced with particles. This numerical approach is based on two main stages. First, a numerical simulation of the suspension flow and the filtration of the charges during the RTM process. A method, for simulating the flow of a resin, loaded with particles in suspension through a fibrous medium, considering its double porosity scale, has been proposed. It is based on the description of the flow by Stokes-Darcy coupling, filtration phenomenon and particle dynamics. Secondly, the ETC of the composite thus produced is evaluated using a numerical homogenisation technique, considering the spherical particles inserted into the carbon-epoxy laminated composite. These obtained results have shown that, the incorporation of particles in the laminated composite leads to a significant increase in their effective thermal conductivity, which depends on their thermal conductivity. Finally, a simple linear thermal model has been proposed to predict the effective thermal conductivity of the composite carbon-epoxy-particles, as a function of that of the base composite carbon-epoxy and that of the particles.