Research with CFX Software on Frame Mould Temperature Field Simulation in Autoclave Process

For autoclave technology in large complex structure manufacturing of composite materials, temperature distribution is the most important factor in process control. Previous researchers have mainly focused on composite exothermic curing reaction and exterior temperature coupling. For the exterior temperature field (especially mould temperature field), a simplified approach of uniformity was also conventionally adopted in those researches. Actually, moulds commonly utilised in autoclave processes have a frame structure and their temperature field variation is a combined heat transfer mechanism involving solid heat conduction, air heat conduction and forced convection. Hence in any phase of an autoclave process, the mould temperature field is non-uniform in the spatial domain. This non-uniform distribution of mould temperature has an important impact on the curing degree distribution and leads to residual stress. In this work, using ANSYS CFX computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software, simulation methodology for frame mould temperature field in autoclave process has been established, and its effectiveness has been verified experimentally. On this basis, a series of frame mould simulation examples has been developed and the impact of mould design parameters on the temperature field was achieved. The results will be of value in frame mould design and manufacturing defect control of composite structures.