Research database

The impact of virtual manufacturing for composites stems from the possibility of assuring manufacturability, selecting suitable processing parameters, and predicting defects for extended durability, which, in turn, translates into reduced cost and time by avoiding multiple iterations of physical testing. In addition, the proper combination of computational science – industry 3.0 – and big data – industry 4.0 – can support manufacturing simulation through improved extrapolation features, the adequate propagation and quantification of uncertainties within the entire manufacturing cycle, and the rapid optimization of cure cycles. This project combines virtual manufacturing with Artificial Intelligence to mitigate defects, i.e., to increase the final product's yield, acceptance, or qualification and enable a "first-time-right" production process. Another aspect this project addresses concern the trade-off between accuracy and simulation time to reduce the overheads to build and run high-fidelity numerical tools. A typical, expected result is a total 3D output including thermo-chemical effects of a complex part within minutes instead of days. This project stems from the existing collaboration between POLITO and UW in the virtual manufacturing of composites. This project aims to extend further partnership by exploiting the synergy between structural mechanics, material engineering, and AI to unleash the potential of virtual manufacturing towards the improvement of the quality of composite parts, minimize the curing time, cure degree inhomogeneity, defects formation, energy consumption, and thus improve resource efficiency.