P. Munoz Esquer, F.R. Lence, J.M. Menendez

Resin transfer moulding appears, up to now, as the only manufacturing process capable of satisfying the requirements of low cost/medium-high volume and rate of production of complex and high performance composite parts in the aerospace industry. But RTM can become a competitive rival to traditional processes only if set-up time and costs are reduced dramatically. A perfect knowledge of all the phenomenon involved in the process is necessary and, up to now, the only approach widely used simulation. However, some parameters of the process are very difficult to reproduce with accuracy, and simulation is only an orientative tool, but not a definitive solution. Only a real knowledge of the evolution of the process would give enough information to refine the geometry of the tool, optimise the position of the ports (during the development stage of the process), or to modify the variables of the process during the injection. Different techniques of on-line RTM process monitoring are presently being tested. CASA, in collaboration with the UPM, has implemented an optical fibre based system to monitor the evolution of the resin flow front during the injection and the degree of cure of the resin, and is presently being tested in the manufacturing of real parts: the leading edge ribs of the elevator of the A340-600.

19th European Conference on Materials for Aerospace Applications, Munich, Germany, 2000

Book Chapter

englisch

14,8 x 21,0 cm, 10 Seiten

DGLR-Bericht, 2001, 2001-02, Advanced Aerospace Materials - Proceedings 2000 ; S.79-88; 2001; Deutsche Gesellschaft für Luft- und Raumfahrt - Lilienthal-Oberth e.V., Bonn

NA

composite structures, structural design, a340 aircraft, aeronautics

Bestellbar

2001