In-situ structural evaluation during the fibre deposition process of composite manufacturing

Abstract

Within the European funded project ECOMISE a new approach for composite manufacturing is developed. This approach provides key technologies for industry 4.0 in order to maximize process efficiency at reduced cost and time while maintaining structural requirements. In detail, process simulation methods, online process monitoring systems as well as methods for in situ structural evaluation and process adjustment in case of process deviations are implemented and linked via databases. This paper describes the new overall concept as well as the specific in situ structural evaluation approach, exemplarily applied to the fibre deposition process. Prior to manufacturing typical manufacturing features such as locally varying fibre orientation, gaps and overlaps are studied based on given knowledge from previous manufacturing as well as from process simulation. The effect of selected features on the structural properties is investigated for the expected parameter ranges. The real detected features are provided by an online monitoring system during the fibre deposition process. Based on these results an in situ structural evaluation of detected features is performed already during manufacturing in combination with a decision making with respect to required part correction. The developed key technologies and tools for the in situ evaluation process are presented, and their prototype application is shown during manufacturing of an aeronautic wing cover demonstrator.