Inspire Resin Transfer Molding offers an analysis tool for virtual testing, validation, correction, and optimization of resin transfer molding designs.
The resin material models in Inspire Resin Transfer Molding support two models for
simulating curing kinetics, the Generalized Curing Kinetics Model and the Constant
Rate Curing Kinetics Model. Both of these models are used to compute the "degree of
curing", which is a scalar variable. Its value ranges from 0.0 to 1.0. Depending on
the material, the maximum value will be restricted to the gelation cure value (<=
1.0).
Generalized Curing Kinetics Model
This is also called the nth Order Autocatalytic Model. It is a combination of an nth
order term with an autocatalytic term. It has many options to control the curing
rate. In this model, both the autocatalytic
coefficient and the nth order
coefficient can be made temperature-dependent (not exposed in
the GUI). However, the interface will set the temperature dependence automatically
to None.
Constant Curing Rate Model
This is a simpler and more easily controllable model which assumes that the curing
happens at a constant rate. Curing begins when the curing initiation time is
reached.
The gelation function is used to describe how the viscosity changes as a function of
the degree of curing. It is assumed that the
resin is fully cured when the gelation value is reached and it ceases to flow. In
addition, the curing reaction is assumed exothermic, and the heat released is
included in the energy equation.