ABSTRACT
Resin transfer molding (RTM) is a widely used manufacturing technique of composite parts. A proper selection of process parameters is the key to yield successful molding results and obtain controlled properties of the part. When thermoset systems are processed, the shrinkage that occurs due to the polymerization reaction further complicates the situation. A finite difference analysis is implemented to simulate the effect of thermal and viscoelastic variations during part processing. A thermal optimization algorithm was developed to improve part curing and avoid resin degradation and material delamination.
