On-Line Process Monitoring for Aero-Space Components Using Different Technologies of Fiber Optic Sensors During Liquid Resin Infusion (LRI) Process

The FLASH-COMP project aims to introduce novel inspection and monitoring technologies to develop a digital solution to predict defects during manufacturing, aiming to reach a zero-waste approach in composites manufacturing. Particularly, it’s studied the integration of two different Fiber Optic Sensor (FOS) technologies: Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) and distributed All Grating Fiber (AGF®), to retrieve relevant data during the preforming stage and later resin infusion process for aero-space materials. During the study, both FOS technologies were introduced into the materials, varying process conditions and the introduction of some artificial defects to evaluate the sensors response to correlate them after with their signals. Both systems can retrieve relevant information during the process such as vacuum, leaks and temperature changes, presence of voids and air bubbles, detection of dry zones, and resin flow monitoring. Further developments have to be focused on the scalability in the implementation, since FOS are fragile to handle and need specific training to use it in a more industrial field.