Simulation and optimization of mandrel-heating process for composite shells using internal heat-curing method

Abstract

Internal heat-curing is a new method involving heating a mandrel inside a composite shell with steam to make a composite cure. High-quality composite shells can be efficiently molded using this method. However, the mandrel temperature does not change as expected during heating, and the temperature difference on the mandrel is large. In order to analyze the reasons for these problems, a mandrel-heating process in which an internal heat-curing method is applied to the composite shell is studied. A numerical simulation of the mandrel-heating process for a slender cylinder-shaped pipe is carried out, and the mandrel structure is optimized according to the simulation results. Temperature tests on the mandrel show that the uniformity of the optimized mandrel temperature is improved. The research in this article provides a basis for the temperature control and structural design of mandrels and their inner channels. Heating at the expected temperature is achieved, ensuring the quality of the formed composite shell.