This master's thesis characterizes a resin infusion process for composite materials generating several problems in the manufacture of aircraft parts, and presents its improvement. The objective was to improve the performance of the initial infusion process in reducing the production time of 50% and the production cost of 25%, while increasing the process robustness.
The process included critical steps, such as the use of vacuum bags, the production of sandwich constructions requiring wet layup to introduce a honeycomb core and several handmade tasks generating recurring defects on parts produced.
One key improvement to the process was to introduce the use of reusable vacuum bags to eliminate standard vacuum bags simplifying this stage. Also, the integration of a foam core directly at the infusion step allowed eliminating the wet layup and reducing the production time. In addition, the automated blending, degassing and infusing of resin through the introduction of an automated blending and infusing machine, plus the addition of a post-cure also have reduced production time and increased the process robustness.
Due to the improvement of the infusion process, the objectives of this research project were reached. Indeed, based on typical aircraft parts made of composite materials, production time was reduced by 53% and production cost was reduced by 42%, while the process robustness was increased.
| Date | 22 Jul 2015 |
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| Original language | French |
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| Awarding Institution | - École de technologie supérieure
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| Supervisor | Simon Joncas (Supervisor) |
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Payette, B. (Author),
Joncas (Supervisor),
22 Jul 2015Student thesis: Master's thesis › Master in Engineering: Mechanical Engineering