Tool to Predict Transient Spatial-Temporal Boundary Conditions for Processing Autoclave-cured Composite Parts

Global Engineering and Materials, Inc., along with University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Wichita State University, and YB Numerics Inc., proposes to develop an integrated mechanics/data-driven multiphysics framework to predict the time-dependent/space-varying local boundary conditions during autoclave processes of composite parts. A high-fidelity thermal fluid-structure interaction (FSI) model will be developed to determine the local flow, temperature, and pressure for parts in the presence of the thermal-mechanical coupling on bagging-tooling surfaces. An immersogeometric approach will be used for efficient FSI simulations of multiple parts with arbitrary placement directly using parts’ CAD model to capture the flow-part interaction with a universal fluid mesh. The spatial-temporal distribution of heat fluxes on the part surface will be included in the FSI model. Actual autoclave runs will be performed using single and multiple parts with in-situ sensors to measure the local/remote flow and temperature for model validation and physics-informed data fusion to further improve the model’s accuracy and fidelity. The validated framework can quickly and reliably evaluate the local boundary conditions and intelligently place multiple parts to achieve the correct cure profile. It paves the way towards the team’s ultimate goal to achieve: efficient, optimized, and adjustable autoclave processes by building a multiphysics simulation-based dynamic control system.