Experimental Study of Thickness Gradient and Flow Simulation in VARTM Process

Vacuum assisted resin transfer moulding (VARTM) process is widely used for manufacturing composite products. It is very difficult to manufacture a composite component with small dimension tolerance using VARTM process. In this research paper, carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) flat plates have been manufactured using the VARTM process with a different combination of process parameters. The carbon fiber laminates with different thickness have been manufactured using the VARTM process. The thickness of manufactured components has been measured at different locations using non-contact type 3D scanning techniques. The warpage has been determined for each manufactured components. The compaction pressure has been measured using pressure gauge at a different location during manufacturing. The thickness variation, pressure variation and volume fraction have been determined across the length for each manufactured components for different thickness laminates. The mould filling time has been calculated using the numerical approach in ANSYS Fluent software and the same has been compared with experimental results. The percentage difference between the experimental and numerical approach has been found within 5 %.