Shortening in Resin Impregnation Time during VaRTM and Interlaminar Toughening for FRP and FML by introducing Mesh Layers

Abstract

To shorten the resin impregnation time of fiber metal laminate (aluminum alloy/GFRP laminates) during VaRTM process, mesh layers made of polyamide (PA) are inserted between aluminum alloy and GF layers. The resin impregnation experiment with fiber optic sensors has shown that the resin impregnation time is shortened due to the out-of-plane flow to the PA mesh via the circular holes in the metal layer which are introduced so that a resin distribution medium can be adapted to the VaRTM process for FML. The resin impregnation behavior was also clarified by control volume / finite element analysis. Drop-weight impact tests for the FMLs fabricated by VaRTM process show that higher energy is absorbed during impact loading by the laminates with the PA meshes inserted. This can be attributed to the interlaminar toughening between aluminum alloy and GFRP layers by inserting PA meshes.