Towards numerical prediction of flow-induced fiber displacements during wet compression molding (WCM)

Wet compression molding (WCM) provides large-scale production potential for continuous fiber-reinforced structural components due to simultaneous infiltration and draping during molding. Due to thickness-dominated infiltration of the laminate, comparatively low cavity pressures are sufficient – a considerable economic advantage. Experimental and numerical investigations prove strong mutual dependencies between the physical mechanisms, especially between resin flow (mold filling) and textile forming (draping), similar to other liquid molding techniques (LCM). Although these dependencies provide significant benefits such as improved contact, draping and infiltration capabilities, they may also lead to adverse effects such as flow-induced fiber displacement. To support WCM process and part development, process simulation requires a fully coupled approach including the capability to predict critical process effects. This work aims to demonstrate the suitability of a macroscopic, fully coupled, three-dimensional process simulation approach, to predict the process behavior during WCM, including flow-induced fiber displacements. The developed fluid model is superimposed to a suitable 3D forming model, which accounts for the deformation mechanisms including non-linear transverse compaction behavior. A strong Fluid-Structure-Interaction (FSI) enforced by Terzaghi’s law is applied to assess flow-induced fiber displacements during WCM within a porous UD-NCF stack in a homogenized manner. Accordingly, resulting local deformations are considered within the pressure field. All constitutive equations are formulated with respect to fiber deformation under finite strains. Results of a parametric study underline the relevance of contact conditions within the dry and infiltrated stack. The numerically predicted results are benchmarked and verified using both own and available experimental results from literature.