Analysis of the Compaction Cycle in the Vacuum Infusion Molding Process

The compaction behavior of dry reinforcements has been the subject of much previous research work. However the research was mainly carried out for the Resin Transfer Molding (RTM) process where the compaction pressure goes up to 1 MPa, and higher compaction rates are involved. In the vacuum infusion molding process, the available compaction pressure never exceeds 1 bar. Accordingly, the analytical compaction models derived for the resin transfer molding process will not reflect the actual behavior of the material. It is known that the process is cost effective for the production of large structures. Normally for these structures, the infusion time is relatively long, which may affect the compressive response of the reinforcement. In their quest for reducing the infusion time, manufacturers have developed high permeable layers, which also affect the compressive response of the whole stack.