Simulation and optimization of vacuum assisted resin infusion process for large-sized structures made of carbon fiber-reinforced plastics

Abstract

Vacuum assisted resin infusion (VARI) is a process applied to manufacture large structures of composite materials, such as aircraft wing and fuselage skins, but the process parameters are designed by experience or lots of experiments. In this paper, the filling process of VARI for composite fuselage skin was analyzed based on simulation and optimized location of resin inlet ports. Firstly, we made 3D model of fuselage skin and simulated impregnation process. Secondly, we determined the location and quantity of resin inlet ports based on simulation results. The simulations showed that it is advisable to reduce the filing time not only by adding the resin inlet quantity, but also choosing optimal locations.