• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.29-35
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• 2007

This research investigates the composites reinforced with fiberglass to wood and commercial particleboard using VARTM process to enhance the mechanical properties. Specimens were prepared from lumbers from thinning crop-trees and commercial particleboard. Matched specimen were reinforced on both sides with one layer of unidirectional fiberglass roving. Fiberglass reinforcement to wood and particleboard using VARTM process improved mechanical properties.

• Composites Research
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.1-7
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• 2004

In the vacuum assisted RTM (VARTM) process that has become the center of attention for manufacturing massive composite structures, a good evacuation of air in the fiber preform is recognized as the prime factor. The microvoids, or the dry spots, are formed as a result of improper gate/vent locations and the mold geometry. The non-uniform resin velocity at the flow front leads to the formation of microvoids in the fibers, whereas the air in the microvoids can migrate along with the resin flow during mold filling. The residual air in the internal voids of a composite structure may cause a degradation of the mechanical properties as well as the structural failure. In this study, a unified macro- and micro analysis methods were developed to investigate the formation and transport of air in resin during VARTM process. A numerical simulation program was developed to analyze the three-dimensional flow pattern as well as the macro- and microscopic distribution of air in a composite part fabricated by VARTM process.

• Composites Research
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.340-347
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• 2015

As resin impregnates through the fiber preform in vacuum assisted resin transfer molding process, the volume of fibers is changed by expansion of fiber mat according to filling time. It causes not only the change in dimension but also the decrease of mechanical properties of the composite product. Moreover, it results in the economic loss by increase of the used amount of resin especially in the large product such as wind turbine blade. In this study, the ways to control fiber volume fraction were investigated by both the experimental and theoretical analyses on the expansion of fiber preform as the preform was impregnated by resin in the VARTM process. Two kinds of swelling stage were observed as flow front progressed, which was analyzed by comparing the experimental and simulation results. The process parameters are expected to be optimized by investigating the swelling behavior of fiber preform in the manufacturing process of the composite product.

• Composites Research
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.88-95
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• 2021

VARTM (Vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding) process is a low-cost process technology and affiliated with OoA (Out of Autoclave). Besides, it has been widely used in various fields. However, because of its lower quality than the autoclave process, it isn't easy to apply the VARTM process to the aerospace industry, which requires high reliability. The main problem of the VARTM process is the loss of mechanical properties due to the low fiber volume fraction and high void content in comparison to the autoclave. Therefore, many researchers have studied to reduce void and increase fiber volume fraction. This study examines whether the method of controlling atmospheric pressure could increase the fiber volume fraction and reduce void during the resin impregnation process. Reliability evaluation was confirmed by compressive strength test, fiber volume fraction analysis, and optical microscopy. As a result, it was confirmed that increasing the atmospheric pressure step by step in the VARTM process of impregnating the preform with resin effectively increases the fiber volume fraction and reduces void.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.43 no.10 s.293
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• pp.607-612
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• 2006

In VARTM (Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding) process, the permeability generally controls the filling time of the resin and it also affects the void characteristics of the fiber composite. In this study, carbon and glass fiber inter-layered hybrid composites (carbon fiber centered stack) with an epoxy matrix were fabricated by VARTM process and evaluated the resin flow and macro void characteristics. The permeability of glass fiber was higher than that of carbon fiber used in this study. Using Darcy's equation, the permeability of hybrid composites could be predicted and experimentally confirmed. After curing, the macro void content of hybrid composites was investigated using image analyzer. The calculated filling time was well agreed with experimental result and the void content was significantly changed in hybrid composites.

• Advanced Composite Materials
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.277-299
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• 2008

High quality and expedient processing repair methods are necessary to enhance the service life of bridge structures. Deterioration of concrete can occur as a result of structural cracks, corrosion of reinforcement, and freeze.thaw cycles. Cost effective methods with potential for field implementation are necessary to address the issue of the vulnerability of bridge structures and how to repair them. Most infrastructure related applications of fiber-reinforced plastics (FRPs) use traditional hand lay-up technology. The hand lay-up is tedious, labor-intensive and relies upon personnel skill level. An alternative to traditional hand lay-up of FRP for infrastructure applications is Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM). VARTM uses single sided molding technology to infuse resin over fabrics wrapping large structures, such as bridge girders and columns. There is no work currently available in understanding the interface developed, when VARTM processing is adopted to wrap fibers such as carbon and/or glass over concrete structures. This paper investigates the interface formed by carbon fiber processed on to a concrete surface using the VARTM technique. Various surface treatments, including sandblasting, were performed to study the pull-off tensile test to find a potential prepared surface. A single-lap shear test was used to study the bond strength of CFRP fabric/epoxy composite adhered to concrete. Carbon fiber wraps incorporating Sikadur HEX 103C and low viscosity epoxy resin Sikadur 300 were considered in VARTM processing of concrete specimens.

• Composites Research
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.1-7
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• 2002

In VARTM process where a sacrificial medium is used to facilitate the resin flow, the velocity of resin varies drastically between the sacrificial medium and the fiber preform. Although the thickness-to-length ratio of a VARTM product is usually small, a 3-D analysis is prerequisite to analyze the lead-lag flow in the two different media. The problem associated with the full 3-D analysis is the CPU time. A full 3-D numerical mesh comprising large number of nodes requires an impractical CPU time on average computer platforms. In this study, a dual-scale analysis technique was developed. The flow analysis for the entire calculation domain was conducted in 2.5-D, and the 3-D analysis was performed for a small area of special concern. In some numerical examples, the local 3-D analysis could discover an eccentric flow pattern as well as the lead-lag flow that will inevitably be neglected in 2.5-D simulations. The global-local analysis technique practiced in this study can be used to analyze the intricate flow of resin through non-uniform media in affordable CPU times.

• Composites Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.198-204
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• 2012

The objective of this study is to improve the mechanical properties in abaca fabric/epoxy composites produced using a VARTM process. The mechanical properties were improved by increasing the surface roughness of the fabric through plasma polymerization and improving the interfacial adhesion between the epoxy and the fabric through changing its hydrophilic properties to the hydrophobic properties. Plasma polymerization at atmospheric pressure and room temperature was used, and the optimal polymerization time to improve the mechanical properties was investigated. NaOH treatment on the fabric was also carried out for the comparison. The composite fabricated using the fabric polymerized for 10 seconds shows the highest tensile strength compared to that of none-polymerized or NaOH treated. Plasma polymerization for more than 20 seconds exhibits decrease in the tensile strength. As a result, the plasma polymerization for more than 20 seconds may have caused some damages on the surface of the fabrics. Also, the hydrophilic abaca represents a tendency of presenting the hydrophobic properties in absorption and sedimentation tests.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.489-494
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• 2004

Long Period Gratings (LPG) is currently receiving considerable attention because of their consistent measuring results fur pressure, temperature, strain and flow. LPG is easier to prepare and has a high sensitivity compared with Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBG). In addition, this kind of optical fiber sensors could be used for implementations in various structures. In this paper, LPG was used to monitor in situ the resin flow and the curing process in VARTM (Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer. Molding). In order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method, FBG is inserted into the glass mat to monitor the resin flow using optical spectrum analyzer (OSA). The curing reactions in VARTM are also observed using the same method. From the results, the attenuation wavelength shift and the loss change of attenuation band can be obtained from the status of the RTM (Resin Transfer Molding) sample owing to the internal variations of the .effective index, temperature, and pressure. It is shown that the proposed LPG is more effective in monitoring the curing reaction than FBG.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 2001.05a
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• pp.130-133
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• 2001

Recent days composite bridge deck is gaining attraction due to many advantages such as light weight, high strength, corrosion resistance, and high durability. In this study, composite sandwich deck models of hat, box, and triangular section type were fabricated by VARTM process. For those models, three point flexural test was carried out both in strong and weak axis. The experimental results are compared with each other to determine efficient section type. Also finite element analysis was performed to verify analysis model. It is demonstrated that the results of numerical analysis agree well with experimental results.