Overview
Researchers have been working with glass-coated microwires for decades. Magnetic microwires are found in applications used in many industries – aerospace is one of them. The EU-funded INFINITE project will develop sensors and analyser based on the usage of ferromagnetic microwires to be embedded in aerospace composite structural parts. The aim is to monitor manufacturing and structural health throughout the whole life cycle of the component. The project will also seek improvements in composite manufacturing and structural health monitoring. Additionally, INFINITE will investigate the potential for reusing sensors and components. The findings will shed light on how to improve current methods for composite recycling.
INFINITE aims to develop sensors and analyser based on the usage of ferromagnetic microwires to be embedded in aerospace composite structural parts, in order to monitor manufacturing and structural health throughout the whole life cycle of the component. The wireless monitoring system will permit producing digital signals and vast sets of data linked with the specimen to create an as-built digital twin of the structure that will also account for the whole history since it was manufactured through all maintenance operations performed, until being optimally recycled.
INFINITE intends to deliver improvements in composite manufacturing and structural health monitoring (SHM) by the development of functional sensorised Non-Crimp fabrics (NCF). These fabrics will provide an efficient real-time monitoring system through a self-sensing fibre by wireless monitoring of the fibre position, orientation, strain-stress and temperature. This will be achieved by applying a safe magnetic signal, providing a volumetric information during the manufacture process (temperature and fibre control) but also during the life of the component. In service, the new SHM system will provide information about component integrity, performance and safety; therefore informing and improving maintenance operations.
The new sensorised NCF will also enable a new repair capability for complex parts. Integration of microwires in the fabric opens new possibilities in the design of future functional composites using existing sensoring technologies. This advanced quality monitoring has the potential to deliver a significant impact on cost and safety reliability of composite components, providing a competitive advantage of European manufactures and MROs. INFINITE also aims to assess the effect of sensoring hardware on the current methods for composite recycling, investigating the potential for re-using (other applications, sectors, etc.) both sensors and components to provide useful end of life functionality.