Prediction Algorithm for Transverse Permeability of Unidirectional Fiber Reinforced Composites with Electric-Hydraulic Analogy

Abstract

This study suggests the prediction algorithm for transverse permeability, represented the flow resistance during the manufacturing process of composite, of unidirectional continuous fiber reinforced plastics. The cross-sectional shape of representative volume element (RVE) is considered to reflect fiber arrangement. The equivalent length is used as a factor to express the change of resin flow according to fiber arrangement. The permeability prediction algorithm is created by grafting the Electro-Hydraulic analogy and validity is confirmed. The code for permeability prediction was composed by means of MATLAB and Python, flow analysis was performed by using FLUENT. The algorithm was verified as the permeability results obtained through Algorithm and numerical analysis were almost identical to each other, and the calculation time was reduced around 1/450 compared to the numerical analysis.