Axial temperature distribution optimization of mandrel for heated mandrel winding method

Abstract

The heated mandrel winding method is a new process based on the internal heat-curing method. With the advantages of high production efficiency, good pressure resistance, and so on, the thermosetting fiber composite shell produced using the heated mandrel winding method has been used as a high-pressure shell. Because of the differences between the heated mandrel winding method and the internal heat-curing method, it is especially important to ensure that the axial temperature is distributed as expected. To this end, the structure of the mandrel is improved, wherein the distribution of the holes is rearranged. An experiment shows that the improved mandrel improves the heat transfer. Furthermore, the steam heating process for mandrels with core pipes of different diameters is numerically simulated using FLUENT. The distributions of the flow field and temperature field are compared, and the influence of the mandrel-to-core-pipe diameter ratio on the temperature distribution on the external surface is analyzed based on the flow field characteristics of steam in a cavity. The conclusions provide the theoretical basis for the optimization of the mandrel structure.