ABSTRACT
The choice of manufacturing process depends on the type of matrix and fibers, the temperature required to form the part and to cure the matrix, and the cost effectiveness of the process. Often, the manufacturing process is the initial consideration in the design of a composite structure. This is because of cost, production volume, production rate, and adequacy of a manufacturing process to produce the type of structure desired. Each manufacturing process imposes particular limitations on the structural design. Therefore, the designer needs to understand the advantages, limitations, costs, production rates and volumes, and typical uses of various manufacturing processes. In the design of a composite structure, the material is designed concurrently with the structure. Because of this freedom, high performance structures can be designed, provided the designer understands how the material is going to be produced. The basic characteristics of manufacturing processes that are relevant to the structural designer are presented in this chapter. Hand layup, prepreg layup, bag molding, autoclave processing, compression molding, resin transfer molding (RTM), vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM), pultrusion, and filament winding are described.
