Curing of composite materials using extended heat transfer models
US5453226A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 13, 1993 |
| Grant date | Sep 26, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 13, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB29C35/0288
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The present invention is a method for controlling the curing process of a composite material part in a curing vessel such as an autoclave. The method relies on the comparison of actual part parameter values to predicted part parameter values wherein the predicted values are obtained from computer simulations of the cure cycles using convective heat transfer, thermo-chemical, cure kinetics, resin flow and viscosity analytic models. The invention provides a methodology for the continuous selection and updating during the cure process of new optimal cure cycles from sets of cure cycles in response to actual material behavior during the curing process. An extended heat transfer model coupled to the thermo-chemical model accounts for convective heat transfer within curing vessel during the curing process.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.