Continuum Dual-scale Modeling of Liquid Composite Molding Processes:

In this study, a comprehensive continuum dual-scale model has been developed for LCM processes for woven fiber reinforcements. This model incorporates the main flow mechanisms involved, including mass exchange between dual-scale porosities, micro-diffusion within fiber tows between neighboring repeating unit cells (RUCs), and the capillary effect within fiber tows. Macro-and micro-flows are simulated at the same numerical scale. A sink and a source term are introduced into the two different scaled flows to couple them together. An unsaturated flow model is adopted to describe micro-diffusion within fiber tows between neighboring RUCs. The physics of the sink/ source term is modelled according to the impregnation of tows within a RUC. Two models developed in soil physics have been adopted to evaluate the capillary effect and the partially saturated permeability within fiber tows. A finite element method is employed to solve the governing equations, and a simple implicit time integration method is suggested...