RTM Model for Resin Flow Over Nonuniformly Heated Fibers

This study examines the effect of heating the fibers of a unidirectional mat on the resin flow between fibers. The model used assumes steady incompressible flow in the direction of the fibers. The resulting Stoke's equation is solved analytically assuming linear variation of pressure, while the energy equation is solved numerically using finite differencing. An iterative scheme is used to update velocity in the direction of flow by using the temperature dependence of viscosity according to the Arrhenius equation. The fibers are heated conductively from their ends producing a temperature distribution down the length of the fibers. Velocity profiles between fibers, resulting from thermally-induced viscosity gradients, are compared for various steps along the fiber lengths. The resulting reductions in flow time are compared to those for fibers held at a constant temperature and to the flow times for the simple isothermal case of unheated fibers.