Tow Impregnation Model and Void Formation Mechanisms during RTM

A simple analytical model has been developed for the impregnation of fiber bundles where the macroscopic flow is parallel to the fiber axis. Based on the study of the contribution of the axial and transverse flow mechanisms inside tows, this model shows that the main tow impregnation process is transverse to the fiber axis. A criterion has been established to indicate when the axial flow can be neglected to simplify the tow impregnation model. This case represents the majority of situations in the RTM of woven fabrics and the model predicts that the flow front in tows has a pointed meniscus shape whose length depends on the effective permeability of the large pores formed between the tows, transverse permeability of tows and thickness. A new boundary condition at the unsaturated tow surface is proposed. It conveys the interactions between the flows occurring inside and outside axial tows during a constant pressure driven impregnation. Two air entrapment mechanisms have been observed. Although the source of these void formation processes is the local difference in fiber arrangement, the dependence of the amount of formed bubbles on the impregnation front length has been clearly identified. In addition, a few means for voids mobilization or bubbles dividing have been investigated.