A Study on Slip Behavior of Fiber Preform by High Speed Resin Flow in High Pressure Resin Transfer Molding

This paper presents the slip behavior of composite fabrics by high speed resin flow in high pressure resin transfer molding. In order to observe the fiber deformation behavior, we constructed the measuring equipment for friction coefficient between fiber and mold, and the monitoring system for deformation of fiber preform in high-pressure RTM process. Coulomb friction coefficient and hydrodynamic friction coefficient between fiber preform and mold were measured and the external force induced by fluid flow causing the deformation of fiber preform was measured. Friction force calculated by friction coefficient and the external force upon fiber deformation were compared, which showed that preform deformation occurred when the external force was bigger than the friction force. The slip behavior of the fiber preform was mainly influenced by the volume fraction of fiber preform and the friction coefficient.