Reaction and thermal analysis for SMC (sheet molding compound) molding in complicated geometries

A finite element technique has been developed for coupled reaction and heat transfer analysis in which mass diffusion is negligible. The temperature unknowns are located at nodal points, while the reaction variables (species concentrations, reaction rates) are at the Gauss points in each element. With a mechanistic kinetic model, the SMC (sheet molding compound) cure in 2‐D and 3‐D geometries was analyzed. The results for plate‐and‐rib configurations show the progression of cure and heat transfer and the influence of geometry on the progression. The analysis for a flat sheet of SMC in a mold with localized heating using bubblers indicates the thermal interaction between the mold and the curing SMC. Temperature and reaction profiles are given for each case.