The Library

Low-cost resin infusion mould tooling for carbon fibre composites manufacture

Tools

Gibbons, Gregory John, 1970-, Segui-Garza, Juan Jose and Hansell, Robert George. (2010) Low-cost resin infusion mould tooling for carbon fibre composites manufacture. Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Proceedings. Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering, Vol.224 (No.4). pp. 511-518. ISSN 0954-4100

PDF
WRAP_gibbons-Low_cost_resin.pdf - Requires a PDF viewer such as GSview, Xpdf or Adobe Acrobat Reader
Download (363Kb)

Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1243/09544100JAERO583

Abstract

This article describes the research to date carried out under the BAE Systems/Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)-funded programme ‘Flapless Aerial Vehicle Integrated Interdisciplinary Research’ (FLAVIIR), aimed at developing innovative technologies for the low-cost manufacture of next-generation Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. The aim of the researchers in FLAVIIR was to develop low-cost innovative tooling technologies to enable the affordable manufacture of complex composite aerospace structures. The advances in tooling technology were achieved through the application of rapid prototyping, tooling and manufacture technologies to provide rapidly configured and reconfigurable tool concepts, for low-cost resin infusion moulding. This article introduces three tooling innovations: reconfigurable tooling concept, variable cavity tooling, and porous cavity tooling.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	T Technology > TS Manufactures T Technology > TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery
Divisions:	Faculty of Science > WMG (Formerly the Warwick Manufacturing Group)
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Machining, Gums and resins, Carbon fibers, High technology, Aerospace engineering
Journal or Publication Title:	Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Proceedings. Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering
Publisher:	Sage Publications Ltd.
ISSN:	0954-4100
Date:	1 April 2010
Volume:	Vol.224
Number:	No.4
Number of Pages:	8
Page Range:	pp. 511-518
Identification Number:	10.1243/09544100JAERO583
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access
Funder:	BAE SYSTEMS (Firm), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Grant number:	WIMRC (EPSRC)
References:	1 Armstrong, D. L., Goodwin, S. L., Sharpless, G., Hethcock, J. D., Andrews, J., and Coyle, L. Development of a low-cost integrated RTM horizontal stabilizer that flies on Bell Helicopter’s MAPL. In Proceedings of the 37th ISTC: Materials and Processing Technologies for Revolutionary Applications, Seattle,Washington, 31 October– 3 November 2005, 15 pp. 2 Backhouse, R. A step towards affordable CFRP structures. In Proceedings of the Sixth Annual SPE Automotive Composites Conference, Troy, Michigan, USA, 2006, pp. 859–863. 3 Hamada, H. and Maekawa, Z. Effect of compression process on void behavior in structural resin transfer molding. Polym. Eng. Sci., 1996, 36(7), 953–962. 4 Choi, J. H. and Dharan, C. K. H. Enhancement of resin transfer molding using articulated tooling. Polym. Compos., 2004, 23(4), 674–681. 5 Ruiz, E., Achim, V., Soukane, S., Trochu, F., and Breard, J Optimization of injection flow rate to minimize micro/macro-voids formation in resin transfer moldedcomposites. Compos. Sci.Technol.,2006, 66(3–4), 475–486. 6 McConnell,V. P. Fast-paced process evolution: advanced RTM produces complex, repeatable, flight-critical parts. SAMPE J., 1998, 34(6), 37–43. 7 Varna, J., Joffe, R., Berglund, L. A., and Lundström,T. S. Effect of voids on failure mechanisms in RTMlaminates. Compos. Sci. Technol., 1995, 53(2), 241–249. 8 Seemann,W. H. Plastic transfer molding techniques for the production of fiber reinforced plastic structures. US Pat. 4902215, 1990. 9 Wanthal, S., Rapp, R., and Sewell, T. A. Improved laminate physical and mechanical properties using ‘hy-test’ vacuum assisted resin transfer molding. In Proceedings of the International SAMPE Symposium and Exhibition, vol. 50, SAMPE 05: New Horizons for Materials and Processing Technologies – Conference Proceedings, Long Beach, California, USA, 2005, pp. 1271–1287. 10 Mills, A. AMICC project laminate characterisation. Internal AMICC Project Report, Centre for Lightweight Composites, Cranfield University, 2001. 11 Anon. RTM 120/HY2954. 120C Epoxy System for RTM Product Data Sheet, 1998, Hexcel Composites. ITA 086. 12 Papargyris,D. A.,Day, R. J.,Nesbitt, A., and Bakavos,D. Comparison of the mechanical and physical properties of a carbon fibre epoxy composite manufactured by resin transfer moulding using conventional and microwave heating. Compos. Sci. Technol., 2008, 68, 1854–1861. 13 Soderberg,M. S. and Starr,R. A. Flexible tooling apparatus. US Pat. 5722646, 1998. 14 Munro, C. B., Walczyk, D., Dvorak, G., and Slusarski, S. J. Incremental double diaphragm forming of composite materials using reconfigurable tooling. Trans. North Am.Manuf. Res. Inst. SME, 2004, 32, 495–502. 15 Haas,E. G.,Schwarz, R. C.,and Papazian, J. M.Modularized reconfigurable heated forming tool. US Pat. 6089061, 1999. 16 Walczyk, D. F., Lakshmikanthan, J., and Kirk, D. R. Development of a reconfigurable tool for forming aircraft body panels. J.Manuf. Syst., 1998, 17(4), 287–296.
URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/3383