Vacuum-Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM)
Vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) is ideal for the manufacture of large-scale composite structures. However, gravitational effects on flow behavior can be significant in increasingly tall structures. In this study, an analytical solution incorporating the gravitational effects is developed to predict the flow and pressure distributions of uniform thickness preforms under vacuum infusion conditions. Injection scenarios of preforms of various lengths and inclination angles ranging from horizontal to vertical are studied. Nondimensional process parameters in terms of the resin fill time, mold angle, permeability, radius and length of injection tubes, and preform cross-sectional area for horizontal, downward, and upward injection scenarios are considered. The analytical results show good agreement with the experimental data collected in horizontal and vertical infusions. The parametric study provides insight into the design and optimization of the VARTM process for infusion of tall composite structures. |
Molding
Blow Molding BL
IBM SBM EBM
Injection Molding IM
RIM LIM RTM VARTM
Rotational Molding
Compression Molding
Insert Molding
Dip molding
Transfer Molding
Thermoforming
Vacuum Forming
Pressure Forming
Drape Forming
Stretch Forming
Inline thermoforming
Twin sheet forming
Extrusion
Co-extrusion
Profile Extrusion
Blown Film Extrusion
Foam Extrusion
Sheet Extrusion
Pultrusion
Calendering
Coating
Fluidised Bed
Electrostatic spraying
Flame Spraying
Laminating
Recycling
Granulation
Blending
Compounding
Other processes