Parameters' monitoring and in-situ instrumentation for resin transfer moulding: A review

This review summarizes the current state-of-art of real-time instrumentation of Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM). As RTM is gaining demand in the aerospace industry because of its higher properties-cost ratio compared with autoclave, better process monitoring and parameters tracking are required. RTM incorporates composite design flexibility and fast-medium volume production improving manufacturing efficiencies on a buy-to-fly sector. After an analysis of current composite monitoring technologies, the review states two major technologies due to its information-cost performance: electric devices (thermocouples, pressure transducers and dielectric sensors) and light devices (optical fibres). The use of one or another is defined by the engineering requirements of the final part, the initial investment on monitoring infrastructure and the accuracy and relevance of the acquired information. Afterwards, the successful incorporation of sensors in the RTM process will help on future innovation on liquid filling strategies, development of preforming techniques and novel multiscale numerical modelling approaches.