In-plane permeability characterization of fiber fabric based on digital image technology

The spatial discretization of the structure and the method’s accuracy have profoundly affected the characterization of material permeability. In this paper, the spatial distribution of fabrics’ permeability was evaluated based on digital image technology, and the effect of step layup sequence on the infusion process was discussed. Firstly, the flow velocity distribution and the flow front angle of the flow front were dynamically extracted from the video stream of the constant pressure unidirectional injection experiments. The in-plane local permeability distribution of the fiber fabric can be obtained through only an experiment by the relationship between fabric permeability and structure. Secondly, solving the permeability tensor in the main direction of the fiber fabric based on digital image technology was established by fitting the normal distribution function and used this method to study the influence of the weaving form on the permeability. Finally, the step layup sequence and constant layup sequence on the infusion process were studied. The results show that the in-plane permeability characterization method established based on digital image technology could simultaneously obtain the permeability in the main direction of the plane and its spatial discretization through only one experiment. The permeability of satin fabric increases with the increase of the number of fiber layers. The infusion method from thicker region to the thin region can achieve the optimal infusion time.