Experimental analysis, simulation, and evaluation of process parameters of GFRP composites produced through resin transfer molding
Glass fiber reinforced composites are experiencing growing demand across various industries including aerospace, military, and transportation due to their superior mechanical properties compared to traditional materials. A custom Resin Transfer Molding (RTM) setup with a central resin injection syst...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Advanced Manufacturing: Polymer & Composites Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/20550340.2024.2441629 |
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| author | Khang Wen Goh Kiran Kumar Algot G. Laxmaiah P. Ramesh Babu Veda Prakash Vodnala Rahadian Zainul |
| author_facet | Khang Wen Goh Kiran Kumar Algot G. Laxmaiah P. Ramesh Babu Veda Prakash Vodnala Rahadian Zainul |
| author_sort | Khang Wen Goh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Glass fiber reinforced composites are experiencing growing demand across various industries including aerospace, military, and transportation due to their superior mechanical properties compared to traditional materials. A custom Resin Transfer Molding (RTM) setup with a central resin injection system was developed to produce high-quality E-glass chopped strand/polyester composites with different volume fractions and resin injection pressures. Flow visualization techniques were employed to observe resin impregnation into the reinforcement and measure parameters such as filling time, flow front velocity, Reynolds number, permeability, and voids. In this study, three types of composites were fabricated using E-glass chopped strand fiber preforms (with 4, 5, and 6 layers) reinforced with polyester resin at five different resin injection pressures (P1 = 0.2 MPa, P2 = 0.25 MPa, P3 = 0.3 MPa, P4 = 0.35 MPa, and P5 = 0.4 MPa). Simulation studies were undertaken utilizing a control volume-based finite element method, employing commercially available RTM-Worx software to model resin flow behavior and determine Mold filling time. Mold filling times obtained from simulation studies at five selected injection pressures for the three composite types were compared with experimental results. The experimental values closely matched the simulation results with a deviation of only 2.26%. Additionally, impregnation velocities and Reynolds numbers derived from the simulation agreed with experimental results at the specified resin injection pressures. The mechanical properties of the molded laminates, including tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact strength, were evaluated according to ASTM standards. These properties are critical indicators of the composite’s performance in real-world applications. The results revealed that both resin injection pressure and the number of layers significantly affect the composite’s mechanical properties. The findings also highlighted the importance of selecting the appropriate injection pressure to minimize void formation and enhance fiber impregnation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-99ec9ed132c64ffc81af0c64ec313d1e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2055-0340 2055-0359 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Advanced Manufacturing: Polymer & Composites Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-99ec9ed132c64ffc81af0c64ec313d1e2025-01-10T13:44:51ZengTaylor & Francis GroupAdvanced Manufacturing: Polymer & Composites Science2055-03402055-03592025-12-0111110.1080/20550340.2024.2441629Experimental analysis, simulation, and evaluation of process parameters of GFRP composites produced through resin transfer moldingKhang Wen Goh0Kiran Kumar Algot1G. Laxmaiah2P. Ramesh Babu3Veda Prakash Vodnala4Rahadian Zainul5Faculty of Data Science and Information Technology, INTI International University, Nilai, MalaysiaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, UCE (A), Osmania University, Hyderabad, IndiaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, CBIT, Hyderabad, IndiaMechanical Engineering Department, UCE (A), Osmania University, Hyderabad, IndiaKshatriya College of Engineering, Armoor (Affl. to JNTU Hyderabad), Armoor, IndiaDepartment of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Padang, Padang, IndonesiaGlass fiber reinforced composites are experiencing growing demand across various industries including aerospace, military, and transportation due to their superior mechanical properties compared to traditional materials. A custom Resin Transfer Molding (RTM) setup with a central resin injection system was developed to produce high-quality E-glass chopped strand/polyester composites with different volume fractions and resin injection pressures. Flow visualization techniques were employed to observe resin impregnation into the reinforcement and measure parameters such as filling time, flow front velocity, Reynolds number, permeability, and voids. In this study, three types of composites were fabricated using E-glass chopped strand fiber preforms (with 4, 5, and 6 layers) reinforced with polyester resin at five different resin injection pressures (P1 = 0.2 MPa, P2 = 0.25 MPa, P3 = 0.3 MPa, P4 = 0.35 MPa, and P5 = 0.4 MPa). Simulation studies were undertaken utilizing a control volume-based finite element method, employing commercially available RTM-Worx software to model resin flow behavior and determine Mold filling time. Mold filling times obtained from simulation studies at five selected injection pressures for the three composite types were compared with experimental results. The experimental values closely matched the simulation results with a deviation of only 2.26%. Additionally, impregnation velocities and Reynolds numbers derived from the simulation agreed with experimental results at the specified resin injection pressures. The mechanical properties of the molded laminates, including tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact strength, were evaluated according to ASTM standards. These properties are critical indicators of the composite’s performance in real-world applications. The results revealed that both resin injection pressure and the number of layers significantly affect the composite’s mechanical properties. The findings also highlighted the importance of selecting the appropriate injection pressure to minimize void formation and enhance fiber impregnation.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/20550340.2024.2441629Microstructure analysisRTM methodsimulationRTMWorx |
| spellingShingle | Khang Wen Goh Kiran Kumar Algot G. Laxmaiah P. Ramesh Babu Veda Prakash Vodnala Rahadian Zainul Experimental analysis, simulation, and evaluation of process parameters of GFRP composites produced through resin transfer molding Advanced Manufacturing: Polymer & Composites Science Microstructure analysis RTM method simulation RTMWorx |
| title | Experimental analysis, simulation, and evaluation of process parameters of GFRP composites produced through resin transfer molding |
| title_full | Experimental analysis, simulation, and evaluation of process parameters of GFRP composites produced through resin transfer molding |
| title_fullStr | Experimental analysis, simulation, and evaluation of process parameters of GFRP composites produced through resin transfer molding |
| title_full_unstemmed | Experimental analysis, simulation, and evaluation of process parameters of GFRP composites produced through resin transfer molding |
| title_short | Experimental analysis, simulation, and evaluation of process parameters of GFRP composites produced through resin transfer molding |
| title_sort | experimental analysis simulation and evaluation of process parameters of gfrp composites produced through resin transfer molding |
| topic | Microstructure analysis RTM method simulation RTMWorx |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/20550340.2024.2441629 |
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