JournaIof

Materials
Processing
Technology
ELSEVIER Journal of Materials Processing Technology 63 (1997) 442-449

A Thermal Model for Cure of Thermoset Composites

S.P. Kinsey", A Haji-Sheikhh, D.Y.S. Louc

"Forney International Incorporated
Carrollton, Texas 75006, U.S.A.
hDepartment of Mechanical Engineering
University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas 76019, U.S.A.
cDepartment of Mechanical Engineering
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588-0656, U.S.A.*

Abstract

In this study the temperature and degree of cure of an advanced composite material during autoclave cure are investigated numerically.
A new thermal model is presented which can compute these quantities for a part of complex geometry and for three different heat transfer
boundary conditions. The Fourier heat transfer equation and a model of the degree of cure based upon the temperature history of the part
are solved using a finite difference technique. An elliptical partial differential equation system is used to transform the geometrical region
into a regular, uniformly spaced computational grid. In using this model, one can analyze the effects of cure cycle ramps, strategies, hold
times, and more realistic heat transfer processes to obtain an optimum cure cycle. Also studied are adaptive cure cycles where the heating
and cooling ramps are "adaptively" controlled by the temperature differences across the composite part, or between the part and the autoclave.
A number of examples are calculated and results are presented.

1. Introduction An examination of the specific material which is modeled in

The composite materials modeled in this work use thermoset
materials as the matrix and elevated temperatures and pressures
to solidify. A composite part which requires thermal and
pressure processing usually is cured in an autoclave. Current
state of the cure process design involves using simple models for
the cure process and a fair amount of experimentation. This
design technique can lead to acceptable parts and processes, but
the processes will not be optimum. A more sophisticated cure
process model should reduce the problems associated with
experimental and experiential methods. Some of the difficulties
that fabricators have experienced are premature onset of gel of
the part due to generated thermal energy trapped in the part, and
incorrect use of pressurizing media other than the time at which
the epoxy resin attains its minimum viscosity so that the trapped
gases can be withdrawn more easily.
In recent years, aircraft have been designed using large
composite and geometrically complex structures. These large
parts have special processing problems that the current process
design can only inadequately address. This work focuses on a
methodology and a set of algorithms that augment the design of
the cure cycle. The thermal and chemical processes which occur
during the cure cycle are modeled by new numerical algorithms.
New procedures are included to model the geometrical properties
of a specimen under consideration. The special attributes of this
model are the range of the physical shapes which can be
modeled, the cure cycle controls that are implemented, and the
numerical techniques that allow this model to run on
workstations.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
this work is presented by Loos and Springer [1]. They found that
the chemical kinetics of curing epoxy may be modeled by a pair
of simple expressions, and produced a simple computer model
for curing. In their model, the resin is allowed to flow both
along the fibers and through the laminae which was the standard
cure technique of several years ago. Loos and Freeman [2]
continued with the flow modeling and experimental verification.
Tang, Lee, and Springer [3] performed empirical verification of
the model but for a different composite material system.
Sanford and McCullough [4] and Sanford [5] further extended
the model to examine the fundamental chemical kinetics from a
free volume approach.
The numerical technique used and extended in this work to
solve the three-dimensional Fourier equation was proposed by
Peaceman and Rachford [6]. It is called the alternating direction
implicit method (ADI). Their work shows that the technique is
unconditionally stable for 2-D problems where the time step size
is equal for each direction. Lapidus and Pinder [7] extended this
technique to three dimensions. The extension is implicit in one
geometrical direction and explicit in the other two for each third
of an overall time step. They found that the extended version is
unconditionally stable for even dimensioned problems and
conditionally stable for odd dimensioned ones. The condition for
stability is that the time step be small.
Griggs [8] used the 2-D ADI approach to formulate a cure
model of epoxy-carbon materials with orthotropic properties.
Lou and Haji-Sheikh [9] extended Griggs' work to a 3-D part.
The major advance of this effort is in the responsive control of
a cure cycle. They proposed an integral method of determining
the proper changes of the autoclave temperature to ensure that
the composite material does not overheat due to the energy
released.

0924-0136/97/$15.00 © 1997 Elsevier Science SA All rights reserved

PII S0924-0136(96)02662-3
 s.P. Kinsey et al./Journal ofMaterials Processing Technology 63 (1997) 442-449 443

The geometrical transformation technique known as body fitted

coordinate systems and numerical grid generation was done by
Thompson [10,11]. These techniques transform a complex
geometry into a simple shape in the computational space to allow 2 2 rfT rfT
(axTJx +axTJ y) -2 + a - (2)
simple finite difference approximations of the governing aTJ z az 2
equations. The cost is added complexity in the governing
equations. The subscripts x, xx, y, and yy associated with the computational
domain variables ~ and 'YJ indicate partial derivatives. These
eight terms are the transformation metrics.

Jacobian=J=x,Yn-xy ~ =y~ ~ =_x~ TJ =_y~ TJ =x~

2. Mathematical Formulation ,., ~~' x J' y J' x J' y J

x~ 2 2 y~ 2 2
The heat transfer governing equations and the transformation ~xx =J(y~~xx +2y~~ ~xTJx +y~~ TJx)+J(x~~ ~x +2x~~ ~xTJx +x~~ TJ x)
from the physical domain to the computational domain must
consider the fibrous nature of the materials. The general c x~ 2 c 2) y~ 2 2
'oyy =J(y~~ ~y +2y~~ 'oyTJ y+y~~ TJ y +J(x~~ ~y +2x~~ ~yTJy +x~~ TJ y)
assumptions used in this study are that the thermophysical
properties of the matrix and the fibrous material remain constant y~ 2 2 x~ 2 2
TJ xx =J(x~~ ~x +2x~~ ~xTJx +x~~ TJ x) +J(y~~ ~x +2y~~ ~xTJx +y~~ TJ)
and independent of temperature. It is assumed also that the in-
plane thermal conductivity is modeled by a parallel model and the y~ 2 2 x~ 2 2
through-plane conductivity by a series model, and both are mass TJ yy =J(x~~ ~y +2x~~ ~yTJy +X~~ TJ y) +J(y~~~y +2y~~ ~yTJy +y~~ TJ y)
fraction based. The equivalent thicknesses are determined by the
mass fraction of the epoxy resin. It is also assumed that the and the obverse derivatives of
physical shape is constant in the third dimension. ax ax ay ay
x~=a( x~= aTJ' Y~=Bf' y~= aTJ'
The computational grid is generated by transforming a complex rfx rfx rfy
shape into a simple shape by the use of an elliptic partial x~~ = a~2' x~~ = aTJ2' y~~ ae'
differential scheme. The physical domain is complex in only two
rfx rfx rfy
dimensions so a cell structure can be formed by stacking the 2-D x~~ = aTJ 2' y~~ = a~aTJ' y~~ = a~aTJ
solution. The elliptic equations used here are those presented in
Thompson [10,11], and when solved, they yield an unevenly In Equ. (2) the material properties are orthotropic and there are
spaced arrangement in the physical domain. The spacing in the no transformations of the temperature or generation terms
computational domain is constrained to be uniform to simplify the needed.
numerical solution techniques for the conduction problem.
A finite difference form of Equ. (2) is:
The procedure for the transformation is to choose boundary
points in the physical domain and to choose a grid arrangement
in the computational domain which is uniform and orthogonal.
These form the boundary conditions for the transformation. The
distribution of interior points in the physical domain is found by
solving the finite difference form of those elliptic equations. Tnl'k-2Tn'+kl+Tnl'k)
C2 C 2) 1+ J. IJ. 1- J.
Central differencing is used and the representations are accurate + ( a 'o +a 'o "k
x x Y YIJ. ( (d~?
+
to second order. Details of the transformation can be found in
Kinsey [12].

The Fourier equation in three dimensions with spatial

C C) (1;~IJ+l.k-1;~IJ+l.k Ti~IJ-l,k 1;~IJ-l'k)
- +
+( a 'o TJ + a 'o TJ .. k+ --'----'-----'----'----'--'---'--'-
x x x y y Y IJ. d ~ d TJ
dependent properties is given by:
01 =_1_ V(F\l1) + -L (1)
at PCp PCp
+ ( axTJ xx +ayTJyy'iJ,k (
) IJ+ lk-Tn
Tn • IJ- lk)
2d TJ
•

where T '" temperature, x,y,z = coordinate directions, g =

generation = pH,dG/dt, p = density, k = thermal conductivity,
c" = specific heat, t = time, Hr = heat of reaction of the epoxy
resin, and G = degree of cure of the epoxy.

Equation (1) in the physical domain, transforms to Equ. (2) in (3)

the computational domain as given by:

aT HrdG aT 2 2 rfT The terms (Xx, (Xy and (x, are the directional thermal diffusivities.
+ (a ~ +a ~ ) - + (a ~ +a ~ ) - +
at C dt
p
x xx y yy' a~ x x y y ae This is a partially explicit form of the equation,
444 S.P. Kinsey et al./Journal ofMaterials Processing Technology 63 (1997) 442-449

The model for generation of energy or heat within this specific

epoxy/carbon fiber composite material is given by [1]:

~~ = (Ale -~:[ + A 2e -~. G)(l-G)(0.47 -G), for G s; 0.3

-!J.E,

~ T.~ T.~
dG = A 3e RT (I-G), for G > 0.3 k- IJ- l,k)
dt (x
+ a T]
xx
+a T]
Y J ..
IJ
IJ+ I •
2il T]
This is an experimentally determined relation in which G is the
degree of cure where

9 5
A A A = 2.lOIx10 -2.0I4xIQ9 1.960x10 , respectively;
l' 2' 3 minute' minute minute
4 4 4
ilE ilE ilE = 8.07x10 J 7.78x10 J 5.66x10 J respectively;
l' 2' 3 mol' mol ' mol '
and H = 473.6 J (5)
R g

The thermophysical properties of the material system used in

the numerical calculation can be found in Loos and Springer [1].

The equations for the equivalent thicknesses for the

thermal conductivity models are given by:

H = Mf Pf H t and He = Ht-H (4) (Tn). 'k

f Pe {1-Mf }+Mf Pf f __IJ_,
+ (Hr dG)n +
M Cp dt "k
IJ.
where Mf = mass fraction of epoxy in the composite,
H t = laminae thickness, Hf = fiber equivalent thickness, and
He = epoxy equivalent thickness. Once the equivalent thicknesses
are known, the thermal conductivities are calculated following the
series model for the y direction and the parallel model for the x
and z directions.

The alternating implicit solution technique requires a set of

equations that describe the finite difference approximation along 1';: Ij+ I.k - 1';~ Ij+l,k - 1';: Ij-I.k + 1';~ Ij-I.k) ( )
( + a T] +a T] . 'k
the grid line under consideration. The independent terms are the il~ilT] x xx Y yy IJ.
temperatures at grid locations along the grid line. Equ. (5)
illustrates this for Equ. (3) for grid point i,j,k. Bear in mind that
this is done for all grid lines in the ~ direction, then for all in the
17 direction, and finally for all in the Z direction. Each direction's
solution is implicit for that direction and explicit for the other
two directions. Equ. (5) is a partially implicit form of Equ. (3).
Moreover, this is for a scan in the ~ direction. Only the (i,j,k),
(i+ I J,k), and (i-I J,k) terms have the n + I superscript which
indicates this is the ~ direction equation. The sole (i,j,k) term (6)
which has an n superscript is in the time derivative. This is
necessary to obtain the finite difference form of that term. To
form the simultaneous equations that are mentioned above, collect
like terms and obtain Equ. (6). This is the basic equation which As mentioned earlier, for three dimensions, the ADI technique
forms the linear system for heat conduction. is conditionally stable and the stability criterion is that the
amplification factor for the growth or decay of errors should be
less than or equal to 1.0 [7].
H dG)n +(a
--!"._ ~ +a ~ ).. ~T.nl'k-T.nl',k)
1+ J, 1- J
( c dt x xx Y yy IJ, 2il ~ 3. Boundary Conditions
p ij.k

There are three types of boundary conditions considered here:

Dirichlet boundaries where the temperatures is specified;
insulated boundaries which are a special case of Neumann
boundaries; and boundaries that have a mixed convective and
 s.P. Kinsey et al./Journal ofMaterials Processing Technology 63 (1997) 442-449 445

conductive condition, also known as Robin boundaries. The

complex mixed convective/conductive boundary condition is
endured because this boundary condition closely models the •= Temper.l~re Points

actual conditions during the cure process. This condition is Figure I. Slab shape and grid structure
handled by the combined thermal resistances of the conductive
layers and the convection within the autoclave as given by
200 1.0
(7) Temperalurea--
180

-
0.8
U 160 Auloclave
Temperalure--
Q)
s..
where h = convective heat transfer coefficient, k; = thermal 140
conductivity of each layer, L; = thickness of each covering layer,
Q)
U='
and N = number of covering layers. ~
5120 0.6
....0
~ 100
Q) Q)
4. Cure Cycle Control 0:. 80 0.4 ~
S
Q) 60
tlD
Q)
The standard autoclave temperature controller has the
E-< Cl
capability to control linear temperature ramps and constant 40 0.2
temperatures. Lou, et al [13] present a method which uses a basis
20
function based upon the temperature field at a reference time
within the part under consideration and the eigenfunction and 0 0.0
0 30 60
eigenvalues of the governing equation in the Ritz-Galerkin Time (minutes)
minimum residual form. When the time is relatively large, one
eigenvalue provides an accurate solution. Figure 2. Straight cure cycle/slab-5°C/min heating and 10°C/min
cooling
N N t
T(x,y,z,t)=T",(t) + L L Fn(x,y,z)Pni f wje -y.(t-<)d't (8a)
boundaries on the four thin edges and mixed boundary condition
n=1 .=1 0
ions on the two large surfaces which mimic the vacuum bagging,
tooling, and breather layers of standard industrial composite
where Fn(x,y,z) is the eigenfunction, Yn is the eigenvalue, Pn; curing techniques. These figures show the results for six points
is an element of a matrix described in Haji-Sheikh and Mashena evenly spaced from the surface to the midpoint of the part.
[14], and
Figure 2 shows the results of simple ramp up-hold-ramp down
Wj = fv dT(-t)]
[ g(x,y,Z,'t) -pcp- " ' - J;(x,y,z)dV
d't
(8b)
cure cycles. As the result shows, the heating ramp is too steep,
and there is extreme overheating of the material due to the rapid
release of chemical bond energy during the process. In fact, one
may observe that even after the cure is completed and the
For one eigenvalue, T(x,y,z,t) T"" if 1/;; = O. This condition cooling period is well underway, there is a difference in
is approximated by temperature of 75°C between the surface and the autoclave.
There is about 10°C temperature difference though the thickness
fg(x,y,z,t)[T(x,Y,z,t,) -T",(t,)]dV of the slab at the end of the process.
v (9)
f pCp[T(x,y,z,t,) - T",(t,)]dV Figures 3 and 4 show a ramp up-hold-ramp up-hold-ramp
down cure cycle design. The three varied parameters in this set
v
of figures are the initial heating ramps (lO°C/min,) the
intermediate hold period (30 min.), and the second heating ramp
Control of the part's surface temperature according to Equ. (7) (2°C/min and 1°C/min).
will result in minimized temperature differences within the
composite part. The reference time, t" should be such that the Notice that the second heating rates of2 °C/min cause elevated
temperature profile within the part is well developed and the heat composite temperatures as in the straight heating/hold/cooling
generated by the chemical reaction is small. In addition, the same cure cycle model. In general, the intermediate hold period is
relation holds for the Robin convective boundary conditions with used to allow the application of consolidation pressures. The
the wall temperature replaced by the autoclave temperature, designer can identify the proper duration and temperature for the
Tcontro[' hold period with this computer model. A sensible application of
pressure should occur when the viscosity of the resin is at a
5. Results and Discussion minimum, which occurs at different temperatures for different
epoxies.
Figure 1 shows the shape and grid structure of a slab of
0.0ImxO.2mxO.2m. Figures 2 through 5 depict the results of It is noticed that the second heating rate is the primary factor
various cure cycles. These computer runs use insulated in controlling the maximum internal temperature. The primary
446 s.P. Kinsey et al./Journal ofMaterials Processing Technology 63 (1997) 442-449

heating rate and the length of the hold period have a small effect
on maximum temperature. 180

160 0.8
200 1.0 G
.....- (l)
;..
140
180 Cll ='
16O 0.8 S 120 0.6
U
....o
U- Cll .-J
.........
140
;.. E 100
Cll
U
=' Cll Cll
S
.-J
120 0.6
....0
l=l. 80
8
0.4 ~
tlD
Cll 60 Cll
~ 100 Eo- Cl
Cll Cll
40 0.2
l=l. 80 0.4 Cll
;..
8Cll 60
tlD
Cll
20

E-< Cl
40 0.2 00 30 60 90 120 150 180 210 248.0
Time (minutes)
20
Figure 5. Adaptive cure cycle/slab-l O°C/min heating with a limit
o M
of 20°C, 30 min hold, IOC/min heating with a limit of 10°C and
o 30 ~ ~ 1~ 1~ 1~
Time (minutes) 5°C/min cooling with a limit of 5°C-adaptive factor 0.2,
Figure 3. Hold cure cycle/slab-lOoC/min heating, 30 min hold, ATS=160°C
2°C/min heating and 1°C/min cooling
200 1.0

180
180
0.8

U- 160 0.8 G
.........
160
Cll
;..
......... Cll 140
140
;..
Cll
U
='
Cll
S 120 0.6
U
==' S
.-J
120 0.6
.......
.-J ....... (IlIOO
0
o
E100 ;..
(l)
Cll Cll l=l. 80
l=l. 80 0.4 Cll

8Cll
;..
tlD
8
(l)
60 Cll Eo-
Eo- Cl
40 0.2
20
20 -Decree or Cure
o 0.0
~-"':.L-"""''''''''-'-'''''''''''''''''-L.-,-""",,,,,,,,-,--,-,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

o M o 30 60 90 120 150 180 210

o 30 60 90 120 150 180 210 240
Time (minutes)
Figure 4. Hold cure cycle/slab-lOoC/min heating, 30 min hold,
1°C/min heating and IOC/min cooling
The information that a designer can obtain from this is the
initial heating rate is not important and one should use the
maximum heating rate of the autoclave. Hold time and
temperature are functions of the specific resin system and the part
design. For instance, a convoluted part needs longer hold periods
to force the part into the tool.
Figures 5 through 8 present the results of the adaptive cure
cycle. The adaptive model controls the heating and cooling rates
by limiting the difference between the autoclave temperature and
the maximum part temperature. This allows the proposed cure
cycle to limit the temperature differences within the cured part
and minimize thermally induced residual stresses. The other main
feature of the adaptive cure cycle method is in the minimum
residual method of computing the heating rate of the autoclave
near the end of the heating period. This heat rate control
dramatically reduces the heat rate near the peak autoclave
temperature. This helps to reduce the peak temperature within the
part.
Time (minutes)
Figure 6. Adaptive cure cycle/slab-IO°C/min heating with a limit
of 20°C, 30 min hold, IOC/min heating with a limit of 10°C and
5°C/min cooling with a limit of 20°C-adaptive factor 0.2,
ATS=160°C
The parameters which are varied across this set of results are
the various differences between part temperatures and autoclave
temperatures, the adaptive factor applied to the minimum
residual method, and the temperature of the second hold period
near the end of the heating(ATS). Notice that the part
temperatures closely follow the autoclave temperature during the
ramp heating after the hold period. This is because the control
strategy adjusts the autoclave temperature during ramp heating
to minimize the temperature differences between the autoclave
and the part. Also, the chemical reaction is liberating enough
chemical energy to force the part to heat at approximately the
rate the autoclave is being heated. The most controlled and rapid
cure is obtained with the cycle presented in Fig. 9. There is very
little temperature variation through the part for this cure cycle.
Thus, the thermal strains that may be introduced via temperature
differences are reduced. The maximum temperature in the part
is about 190°C. The part experiences that temperature level for
 s.P. Kinsey et al./Journal ofMaterials Processing Technology 63 (1997) 442-449 447

an extended period which accelerates the cure without the damage 200 r....-....--.--,-,.........................,....~::;:::t::==="11.0
that results from higher temperatures.
180

'G'160 0.8
200 r'"~""-""""-""""-.--'-,,,,,,,""'-.,.......,r-r-::::::::t=J=,
1.0 Q)
'-"
140 \.0
180 Q) ;j
U
'G'160 0.8
Q)
5
~
120 0.6
....o
'-" \.0 ~ 100
140 ;j Q)
Q) Q)
U 0. 80 0.4 Q)

~
5 120 0.6
....o S
Q) 60
\.0
bD
Q)
Auloclave
~ 100 Eo-< Temperalure- o
Q) Q)
40 0.2
0. 80 0.4 ~
S 60
Q)
bD
Q)
20

Eo-< o
40 0.2 o0~""":::--'-"'6:::0:-'-....t....:9~0""""""1~2'='0""""-15J..0-L..-'-18L:0""""'''''2.J18'0
Time (minutes)
20

o u
o 30 60 90 120 150 180 210
Figure 9. Adaptive cure cycle/slab-1 O°C/min heating with a limit
Time (minutes) of 20°C, 30 min hold, l"C/min heating with a limit of lOoC and
Figure 7. Adaptive cure cycle/slab-10"C/min heating with a limit 5°C/min cooling with a limit of 20°C-adaptive factor 0.8,
of 20"C, 30 min hold, 1"C/min heating with a limit of 10°C and ATS= 150°C
5°C/min cooling with a limit of 20"C-adaptive factor 0.2,
ATS=150°C

0.8 • = Temperalure Points

Q)
\.0
;j
U

Auloc1av.
0.6
....o 200 1.0

Temperalure- 180
Q)
0.4 ~ 'G'160 0.8
Q)
bD '-"
\.0
Q) 140
;j
o Q)
U
\.0 120
0.2
~
;j 0.6
....0
20 E100
Q)
o ~~l....L-L..J....o.-'-""""-'-""""""""~""""~'-':::-":''-':~ 0.0 0. 80
o 30 60 90 120 150 180 210 240
Time (minutes) S 60
Q)
Eo-<
Figure 8. Adaptive cure cycle/slab-lO"C/min heating with a limit 40

of 20°C, 30 min hold, 1"C/min heating with a limit of lO"C and 20

5°C/min cooling with a limit of 20°C-adaptive factor 0.1
ATS=150°C
The shape and grid arrangement of a rectangular part with
three holes is shown in Fig. 10 together with the results of the
computer analysis. Notice the close spacing of grid points in the
vicinity of the hole. This allows for better accuracy in the
computations near the hole. It also helps the stability of the
solution. Since the alternating direction implicit technique is
conditionally stable, the relative size of the grid steps is crucial.
Small grid point steps allow for longer time steps and vice versa.
The small grid spacing is doubly beneficial. Notice also the
boundary following attributes of the grid structure. The part
dimensions are: 0.10 m tall, 0.20 m deep, 0.05 m diameter
holes, and 0.55 m long. The holes are located at 0.12 m, 0.28 m,
and 0.44 m from the left edge.
0 0.0
0 30 60 90 120
Time (minutes)
Figure 10. Hold cure cycle/slab with 3 holes-lOo/min heating, 30
min hold, 5°C/min heating and 5°C/min cooling
The boundary conditions for this example are Dirichlet type for
all of the boundaries. The part is sufficiently thick to cause
significant temperature variations through the thickness. The
relatively large temperature variations also give rise to
significant variations in degree of cure. The cure degree effect
can be reduced by choosing a longer cure cycle. The current
criterion used in numerical computation for the beginning of the
448 SP. Kinsey et al./Journal ofMaterials Processing Technology 63 (1997) 442-449

cooling period is that the degree of cure at any location exceeds
0.98. A different criterion would produce a different cure cycle.
Figure 11 shows the grid and results for a relatively complex
part. This is the so-caIled HATHALF part. The extreme grid
distortion indicates this grid arrangement may cause grid induced
error in the numerical solutions of the conduction equation. The
structure of a grid can diffuse into the solution by the
transformation metrics and destroy the accuracy or even the
possibility of a solution.
results calculated from this thermal model are consistent with
published cure temperature profiles. Figure 12 shows a
comparison between data from Hsing [15] and that obtained
from this model. These data are for a 128 layer composite slab
which is 0.036 m thick. The boundaries are insulated except the
bottom which is a Dirichlet boundary. There is good agreement.
240
220

u 200
-180
~ 160
3140
CIl
1-0120
Q)
P.I00
• = TemperaLure Points 8 80 •••••
•••••
Hsing Data
Hsing Data 50'
i25'r'
Q) ••••• Hsing Data 98'
E-o 60 -- Cure Cycle
•••••-
- - -
Model
Model 50'
{25'1
200 1.0 - - Model 98'
20
180
OL-.l........--I.--'-.......-L.......""--l-J........--I.--'--'--'-->-........,j
o 30 60 90 120 150 180

-
G160

Q)
1-0
140
0.8
Q)
1-0
='
U
Time (minutes)
Figure 12. Comparison of empirical results with numerical
=' 120 o.a model: hold cure cycle/slab with Robin boundaries-2.5"C/min
-oJ '-
E100 0 heating, 30 min hold, 4"C/min heating and 1.75°C/min cooling
Q) Q) [15]
P. 80 0.4 Q)

S
Q)
1-0
btl
Q)
E-< Q
0.2 References
20
[1] A. C. Loos and G.S. Springer, "Curing of Graphite/Epoxy
0 0 Composites," Report No. AFWAL-TR-83-4040, U.S. Air
0 30 60 90 •0
Time (minutes) Force Wright Aeronautical Laboratories, Wright-Patterson
AFB, Ohio, (1983).

Figure 11. Adaptive cure cycle/hat-lO°C/min heating, no hold
and 5°C cooling
The HATHALF geometry is as foIlows: the four (two exterior
and two interior edges) vertical straight surfaces are 0.10 m taIl;
the lower horizontal, straight surfaces are 0.20 m long; the
upper, horizontal, straight surfaces are 0.10 m long; the lower
curved surface is 0.10 m radius; the upper curved surface is 0.20
m radius; and the depth is 0.20 m. This part is 0.10 m thick at
most cross sections.
Dirichlet boundary conditions are used in this example. AIl
faces of this part, including the curved surfaces, are maintained
at the control temperature. The temperature differences between
the points indicated in Fig. 11 are smaIl. The differences in the
degree of cure at these locations are also smaIl. The relatively
thick part geometry causes large variations but locations of
approximately equal depth have approximately similar history.
In general, the thermal model developed in this study can
handle a wide range of shape sand cure cycles. The numerical
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