Heat transfer analysis of a new adaptive molding technology for composites

颗粒堵塞是自20世纪40年代S以来所知的一种现象，它使材料从类液体状态转换到**固体状态。该行业合作伙伴的专利创新(美国专利9211660)基于材料堵塞**，能够有效且低成本地改进现有的树脂转移模塑工艺，这些工艺**正越来越多地应用于航空航天和汽车应用。该专利要求颗粒材料可以**符合并可逆地固化，以充分支撑半柔性模面，同时抵抗**类似于高压罐的树脂注射压力。创新的自适应成型技术有可能**降低模具和加工成本，从而开启高性能复合材料的新应用，特别是**尺寸零件的应用。为了使这项**新技术充分发挥潜力，并确保其符合汽车、航空航天、工业和**海洋成型标准，迫切需要对液体在颗粒床中的流动进行传热分析。**蒙雷亚尔理工学院的特鲁楚教授是过程模拟软件PAM-RTM的开发商，**自2001年以来由ESI Group(www.esi-group.com)商业化。**被公认为该领域的世界领先者，勒内·马泰里奥复合材料公司(RMC)与他联系，**分析空气和液体在颗粒床中的传热。为此，将**测量渗透率，并用离散单元法**(DEM)计算颗粒床的有效导热系数。在复合材料制造业竞争激烈的工业环境中，计算机过程模拟扮演着重要的角色。该项目将补充目前由工业**合作伙伴进行的现场工作，该合作伙伴正在投资，在RMC研发经理马克·格勒尼耶的**监督下，让专利工艺的发明者约翰·博兰德参与该项目。完成后，将为未来**通过自适应模塑制造复合材料示范部件的工作制定路线图，以提出合作**研究与开发(CRD)拨款申请。

Granular jamming is a phenomenon known since the 1940's that enable materials to switch from fluid-like to**solid state. The patented innovation of the industry partner (US patent 9211660) based on material jamming**enables an effective and low cost modification to existing Resin Transfer Molding (RTM) processes that are**increasingly used in aerospace and automotive applications. The patent requires that granular material can be**made to conform and reversibly solidify to adequately support a semi-flexible mold face while resisting**autoclave-like resin injection pressures. The innovative adaptive molding technology has the potential to**reduce tooling and process costs, thus opening new applications of high performance composites, especially for**parts of dimension. Heat transfer analysis of liquid flows through granular beds is strongly needed to allow this**new technology to reach its full potential and ensure that it will meet automotive, aerospace, industrial and**marine molding standards.**Professor Trochu of Polytechnique Montréal is the developer of the process simulation software PAM-RTM,**commercialized since 2001 by ESI Group with more than 200 users worldwide (www.esi-group.com).**Recognized as a world leader in the field, he was contacted by René Matériaux Composites, Inc. (RMC) to**analyze the heat transfer in air and liquid flows through granular beds. For that purpose, permeability will be**measured, and the effective heat conductivity of the granular bed evaluated by the Discrete Element Method**(DEM). Computer process simulation plays an important role in the highly competitive industrial environment**of composite manufacturing. The project will complement current field work conducted by the industrial**partner, who is investing to involve the inventor of the patented process, John Borland, in the project with the**supervision of RMC's R&D manager, Marc Grenier. Upon completion, a roadmap for future work on the**fabrication of a composite demonstration part by adaptive molding will be established to propose a Cooperative**Research and Development (CRD) grant application.