Numerical simulation of prepreg resin impregnation effect in vacuum-assisted resin infusion/prepreg co-curing process

A new finite element formulation was developed to simulate the prepreg resin impregnation effect in vacuum-assisted resin infusion/prepreg co-curing process. The numerical model combined the fiber compaction and resin flow model in prepreg part with resin impregnation front tracking model in dry fiber fabric. The influences of processing parameters, including various temperature and time, on the impregnation height in dry fiber fabric and change of fiber volume fraction in prepreg stack were analyzed by numerical model and micrographs in experiment. The accuracy of numerical model was validated by the good agreement between simulation and experimental results. These results are greatly helpful to optimize processing parameters and improve the manufacturing efficiency in co-cured vacuum-assisted resin infusion process.