Lattice Boltzmann method for the simulation of multiphase flows through fibrous porous media arising in Resin Transfer Molding

被称为复合材料的新材料广泛应用于当今的制造业，其中包括海洋，汽车和航空航天工业。现代飞机包含许多由这些人造材料制成的部件，使这些部件更轻，同时保持甚至提高其机械强度非常重要。 在这种情况下，我们的项目涉及复合材料（CM）的工业成型过程称为树脂传递模塑（RTM）。基本上，该过程包括将浸渍有树脂溶液的增强材料（编织织物）装配到模具腔体内。一旦树脂固化，就可以获得模具所赋予的特定形状（例如，船船体），从而生产出高质量的部件。 目前的RTM工艺会产生一定量的空气截留（孔隙率），这会损害CM的机械性能。因此，RTM中的孔隙率降低是主要的工业目标。然而，造成这一问题的主要因素尚未完全了解。在这方面，我们的工作在这个项目中的目的是开发一个计算机化的替代实验原型的模具填充过程中，也就是说，一个计算机程序进行虚拟RTM。这种方法的优点是比目前使用的方法成本更低，耗时更少，并且将使工程师能够根据需要模拟尽可能多的过程，使用不同的树脂注射点和流速以及各种类型的织物，直到获得具有增强机械性能的工件。 该项目的成功将由我们在流动建模方面的专业知识和专有技术以及与RTM专家工作中获得的实验数据的比较来保证。

New materials known as composites are widely used in manufacturing sectors today, among them the marine, automotive and aerospace industries. Modern aircraft contain a number of components built with these man-made materials, and it is highly important to make these components lighter, while maintaining and even improving their mechanical strength. In this context, our project concerns the industrial moulding of composite materials (CM) in a process called Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM). Essentially, this process consists of fitting a reinforcement material (woven fabric) impregnated with a resin solution inside a mould cavity. Once the resin has solidified, the particular shape given by the mould (a boat hull, for example) is obtained, producing a high quality part. Current RTM processes produce a certain amount of air entrapment (porosity), which harms the mechanical properties of CM. Consequently, porosity reduction in RTM is a primary industrial goal. However, the main factors causing this problem are not yet fully understood. In this respect, our work in this project is aimed at developing a computerized alternative to experimentally prototyping the mould-filling process, that is, a computer program for performing virtual RTM. This methodology has the advantage of being less costly and less time-consuming than the one currently used, and will enable engineers to simulate as many processes as needed, with different resin injection points and flow rates, and various types of fabrics, until a piece with enhanced mechanical properties is obtained. The success of this project will be guaranteed by our expertise and know-how in flow modelling and on comparisons with experimental data available from the work of RTM experts.