PAM-RTM, a resin injection software module within PAM-COMPOSITES, is used to simulate the injection or the infusion of a resin in a preform. It can also be used to analyze the curing of thermoset components, in the autoclave or out of the autoclave (OOA).

PAM-RTM can model a wide range of processes including:

• Resin Transfer Molding (RTM)
• Vacuum Assisted Resin Infusion (VARI)
• Compression RTM (C-RTM)
• High Pressure RTM (HP-RTM)
• and many more

This module predicts how the resin flows in a preform that might include inserts (metals, wood, foam).

Typically, simulation results reveal:

• filling time
• risk of dry spots appearance or fiber washing
• flow front velocity
• pressure applied to the mold
• porosity level
• curing time
• temperature and degree of cure evolution

With PAM-RTM, RTM manufacturing defects are eliminated and product quality is improved upfront in the product development process, before any tools are cut, thanks to optimization of the following parameters:

• injection/infusion strategy (choice of LCM process)
• injection pressure or flow rate
• temperature cycle (tool and resin)
• location of injection gates, vents and vacuum ports
• type and positioning of the flow media
• curing cycle

Simulation can also be used later in the process to correct manufacturing issues after they are identified.

PAM-DISTORTION, a process induced distortion module within PAM-COMPOSITES, is used to compute composite residual stresses and geometrical shape distortions induced by the manufacturing process of fiber reinforced parts made of thermoset resins.

The module accounts for strains generated by the phase transformations of the resin and the associated modifications in the material properties (during curing, the material goes from liquid to rubbery to glassy).

PAM-DISTORTION seamlessly integrates temperature and degree of cure history computed in the curing simulation using the PAM-RTM module for an effective composites distortion analysis.

To minimize shape distortion of composites, process parameters, such as the curing temperature cycle, can be fine-tuned through simulation. Another solution is to generate a new mold geometry – a compensated mold, based on computed geometrical distortions in order to obtain a final part geometry within the specified tolerance.

CPD-to-ESI is an addition to CATIA CPD (Composites Part Design) workbench. It is a command tool developed by ESI Group, which is available directly in the CPD workbench through a dedicated icon in the toolbars.

This command tool allows you to transfer information seamlessly from CATIA CPD model to PAM-COMPOSITES.

This plug-in will generate an “xml” file that you can then import into PAM-COMPOSITES.

This import will retrieve from CATIA CPD:

• the geometry of each ply
• the stacking sequence
• the rosettes
• the defined thicknesses and ply orientations

The CPD-to-ESI plug-in saves you time during simulation modeling by retrieving information already available in the CATIA model.