Purpose- This study is part of the FP7 project ADVITAC and focuses on exploringan innovative combination of cutting edge technologies to be implemented withinautomated processes for composite parts manufacturing. The objective is thedesign of a production route for components with tailored fibre orientation andply lay-up, with improved damage tolerance thanks to through-the-thicknessreinforcement and integrated health monitoring systems based on optical fibrestechnology.Design/Methodology/Approach- The proposed technologies are described in detailand their compatibility and potential for integration are discussed. A set upfor on-line monitoring of infusion and curing processes of carbon/epoxylaminates preformed by dry fibre placement technology is proposed, and apreliminary study of their mechanical performance is presented. The possibilityof reinforcing through-the-thickness preforms manufactured with dry slit tapesautomatically laid-up and consolidated by laser heating is investigated.Findings- Improved knowledge of interaction/compatibility between the discussedtechnologies and scope for application.Research limitations/implications- The paper reports the technical potential andpractical feasibility of the proposed integrated production process. Limitedquantitative evaluations on the materials performance are provided. The analysisof the technologies involved represents the early outcome of the ongoing ADVITACproject.Practical implications- This study contributes to the identification of a newgeneration of composite architecture which allows production cost and weightsavings while retaining the level of quality suitable for demanding structuralapplications, with particular relevance to the aerospace field.Originality/value- This paper investigates for the first time the practicalpossibility of designing a single automated process involving dry fibreplacement, tufting and optical fibre sensor monitoring for the production ofcomplex composite components.
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