A MODEL FOR PREDICTING FREE SURFACE FLOW OF THE RTM PROCESS

Paper in proceeding, 2017

A novel model is developed for modeling the Resin Transfer Moulding process. The compressible two-phase flow porous media formulations accounting for the capillary effects and relative permeability are derived. The resulting equations lead to a non-linear coupled closed system that contains a parabolic mixture pressure equation plus a convection-diffusion-reaction saturation equation. Then a staggered Galerkin finite element approach is used to decouple the solution of mixture pressure and saturation degree. Moreover, the Streamline-Upwind/Petrov-Galerkin (SUPG) technique is applied to attenuate the oscillations in the saturation solutions. The model accuracy and convergence of the solving scheme is then demonstrated through 1-D numerical examples. The present model is turned out to be a standard boundary value and initial value problem with high computational efficiency and robust solutions.