Viscosity: thermal history treatment in resin transfer moulding process modelling

Thermal history dependent viscosity models have been used in various numerical codes to predict the variation of the resin viscosity during the resin transfer moulding process (RTM). The models are based on mathematical models which predict the degree of cure of the resin and then use this to predict the viscosity. The work presented in this paper illustrates some of the difficulties associated with thermal history dependent viscosity modelling for RTM and highlights sources of variation between the behaviour predicted from these models and the real behaviour of the resin. An alternative method is outlined and demonstrated which may circumvent many of the current problems and sources of inaccuracy. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Limited.