Application of the level set method to the simulation of resin transfer molding

A new methodology is presented to simulate mold filling in resin transfer molding (RTM) using a combination of the level set and boundary element methods (BEMs). RTM is a composite manufacturing process where a liquid resin is injected in a closed rigid mold containing a dry fibrous reinforcement. Process simulation is motivated by the importance of tracking accurately the motion of the flow front during the mold filling stage. The BEM solves the equation governing the resin flow and the level set method is implemented to track the resin front in the mold. This formulation opens up new opportunities to improve RTM flow simulations and optimize injection molds. The present paper focuses on isothermal resin flow in undeformable porous medium. The implementation of the numerical algorithm is described and several examples of two-dimensional filling with single or multiple injection gates are presented. The robustness of the coupling and the ability to predict accurately the position of the front by this new model are discussed. It is also shown how dry spot formation can be tracked precisely during the simulation and how a generalization of this approach allows predicting resin flow across obstacles.