Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Simulation of mold temperature distribution in a running process autoclave

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Iranian Polymer Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Composite materials have become increasingly more popular in aviation because of their good characteristics. One of the ways to fabricate composite products is through autoclave process. Due to the fact that in the molding process of the thermosets the performance and quality of composite products depend on mold temperature distributions, it would be necessary to analyze the heat transfer behavior on large size molds. A simulation was performed using finite element softwares to obtain temperature distributions on mold surfaces. The measured values were basically in good agreement with the simulated results. The simulation on the temperature stability was also studied and the simulated results of the temperature distribution, in the stabilized stage, were analyzed. The increases in temperature and simulation of the results of stabilization could provide guidance for the mold design. The novelty of the research is taking into account the influence of gravity and the real atmosphere considered as the environment of simulation. The K-epsilon turbulence model, which corresponds more exactly with the real conditions, was selected. Besides that, unstructured mesh was applied, because it accommodated well to complex geometrical shapes and generated suitable boundary layer.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Yan D, Liu W, Huang G (2012) Design study for composites autoclave forming mould. Design Manuf Technol Die Mould 7:119–124

    Google Scholar 

  2. Yue G, Zhang J, Zhang B (2013) Study on the influence of mold on cure-induced deformation of composites structure. Acta Materiae Compositae Sinica 4:206–210

    Google Scholar 

  3. Gao Y, Qu CH (2012) Numerical simulation about heat-fluid coupling in autoclaves. Ind Furn 34:37–39

    Google Scholar 

  4. Zhang X, Gan Z, Zhang H (2011) Research on optimization of mold temperature fields in autoclave age forming. Manuf Inform Eng China 40:30–37

    Google Scholar 

  5. Yue G, Zhang B, Du S, Dai F (2010) Influence of the mould on curing induced shape distortion for resinmatrix thermosetting composites. Fiber Reinf Plast Compos 9:63–65

    Google Scholar 

  6. Zhang Ch (2009) Curing temperature field trade-off design method of large-scale composite material structure in autoclave process. Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin

    Google Scholar 

  7. Gniatczyk JL, Aquilina GR, Deaver DT, Deavar DC (2000) Composite molding tools and processes of forming molding tools. US Patent 6309587 B1

  8. Michael C, Niu Y (2005) Composite airframe structures. Conmilit Press Ltd, Hong Kong

    Google Scholar 

  9. Duval MF (2005) Investigation and modelling of the heat transfer process in carbon fibre/epoxy composite tools. PhD Thesis, Canada, Carleton University

  10. Hudek M (2001) Examination of heat transfer during autoclave processing of polymer composites. MSc Thesis, Canada, University of Manitoba

  11. Zhang J (2012) Research on composite molding process in autoclave based on FEA. Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing

    Google Scholar 

  12. Yue G, Zhang B, Du S, Dai F, Zhang CH, Liang X, Wang Y (2009) Geometrical deformations of the framed-mould in autoclave processing for composite structures. Acata Materiae Compositae Sinica 26:148–152

    Google Scholar 

  13. Yu G (2011) A technology of temperature field analysis in autoclave processing for airplane composite structures. Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing

    Google Scholar 

  14. Zhang CH, Zhang B, Wang Y (2010) Refined simulation on curing temperature field of composites structures. Dev Appl Mater 6:41–46

    Google Scholar 

  15. Zhan CH, Liang X, Wang Y (2011) Rules of impact of autoclave environment on frame mould temperature field of advanced composites. J Mater Sci Eng 29:547–553

    Google Scholar 

  16. Bai G, Yan D, Zhang D (2013) A study on the temperature field distribute property of large frame type molds. Acta Materiae Compositae Sinica 30:169–174

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Light Alloy Research Institute of CSU, Central South University, No. 932, Lushan South Road, Changsha, 410083, Hunan, China

    Fei Chen, Lihua Zhan & Yongqian Xu

Authors
  1. Fei Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lihua Zhan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yongqian Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lihua Zhan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chen, F., Zhan, L. & Xu, Y. Simulation of mold temperature distribution in a running process autoclave. Iran Polym J 24, 927–934 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13726-015-0384-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13726-015-0384-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation