Abstract

NERO project arises from the need to control and monitor the manufacturing, repair, and in-service life structures processes in composite materials, an area in full expansion that has been experiencing rapid growth in recent years. Composite materials are currently considered one of the strategic materials in the manufacturing processes of the future, due to the high functional impact and weight reduction they provide in a wide range of sectors. In this way, the monitoring systems that have been developed in the project will contribute to overcoming some of the main barriers to the introduction of these materials in the industrial environment, such as the high consumption of resources, low automation ratios, and high percentage of rejections, which will significantly lower production costs. Based on this background, NERO has developed an advanced monitoring system based on non-invasive embedded sensors, which allow to carry out more efficient and environmentally sustainable manufacturing and repair processes of composite material structures, and which, in turn, provide information on the structural behavior during their service life. The ad hoc monitoring system developed in NERO employs fiber optic sensors (FOS), based on FBG and Rayleigh scattering, and ion mobility (DC) sensors. The monitoring and control system developed was validated for the manufacturing and repair processes of composite in three different use cases and industrial sectors.

Abstract

The development of renewable energies is a fundamental need to meet the ambitious energy targets demanded by industry and the European Union in the coming years. In the case of offshore wind energy, it has certain limitations due to its relative youth and associated costs, especially in the maintenance, operation and repair operations. Within the project, that includes this work, has developed a new multi-material component with high structural requirements for the offshore wind sector. A combination of steel and composite, manufactured by filament winding, with a system of protection of biofouling and corrosion, will be validated in a real conditions test in the experimental zone of INEGA (A Coruña), by a demonstrator to scale 1:5.

For real-time monitoring of the multi-material structure, a monitoring system has been developed based on fiber optics sensors type Bragg Grating (FBG), integrated in this structure. This monitoring system includes sensors of corrosion, temperature and deformation. This paper shows the development and characterization of these sensors at the laboratory level against mechanical, thermal tests and study durability in marine environment. In addition, it describes the integration of the monitoring system in the demonstrator and its response during the validation phase.

Abstract

The development of renewable energies is a fundamental need to meet the ambitious energy targets demanded by industry and the European Union in the coming years. In the case of offshore wind energy, it has certain limitations due to its relative youth and associated costs, especially in the maintenance, operation and repair operations. Within the project, that includes this work, has developed a new multi-material component with high structural requirements for the offshore wind sector. A combination of steel and composite, manufactured by filament winding, with a system of protection of biofouling and corrosion, will be validated in a real conditions test in the experimental zone of INEGA (A Coruña), by a demonstrator to scale 1:5.

For real-time monitoring of the multi-material structure, a monitoring system has been developed based on fiber optics sensors type Bragg Grating (FBG), integrated in this structure. This monitoring system includes sensors of corrosion, temperature and deformation. This paper shows the development and characterization of these sensors at the laboratory level against mechanical, thermal tests and study durability in marine environment. In addition, it describes the integration of the monitoring system in the demonstrator and its response during the validation phase.

Abstract