Three‐dimensional nonisothermal mold filling simulations in resin transfer molding

Abstract The manufacture of polymer composites through the process of resin transfer molding (RTM) involves the impregnation of the reactive polymer resing into a mold with preplaced fibrous reinforcements. Determination of RTM processing conditions requires the understanding of various parameters, such as material properties, mold geometry, and mold filling conditions. Modeling of the entire RTM process provides a tool for analyzing the relationship of the important parameters. This study developed a nonisothermal 3‐D computer simulation model for the mold filling process of RTM based on the control volume finite element method. The model will be able to simulate mold filing in molds with complicated 3‐D geometry. Results of some numerical studies in RTM show the applications of the proposed model.