Documents published in Scipedia

• Implementation guidelines for the application of innovative composite manufacturing processes in the shipbuilding industry

  I. Saenz-Dominguez, R. Pereira, I. Ruiz de Eguino, A. Arruti, I. Tena

  Materiales Compuestos (2023). Vol. 08 - COMUNICACIONES MATCOMP21 (2022) Y MATCOMP23 (2023), (Núm. 2 - Fabricación y Aplicaciones Industriales - Sostenibilidad y Reciclaje.), 38

  
  

  Abstract

  Composites are still playing an important role in the strategic agendas of industries associated with the transport sector, such as the shipbuilding industry. This is mainly because composites are a key element in lightening structures due to their elevated strength-to-weight characteristics, excellent corrosion resistance and low maintenance costs. However, the production capacity in the number of Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) ships nowadays is not achieving its full potential due to high total production costs. Thus, to maintain or even expand the competitive position of the EU shipbuilding industry it is essential to improve, optimize and automate the production processes for FRP parts. The European Project Fibre4Yards (This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101006860) addresses this challenge through the implementation of the Shipyard 4.0 concept and applying innovative FRP manufacturing technologies to the shipbuilding industry such as: curved pultruded profiles, automated fibre placement (ATP), adaptive moulds, additive manufacturing, and hot stamping. This work proves that during the adaptation process of certain manufacturing technologies to a new market, the decision-making stage must follow some specific steps: from the first analysis of the technical feasibility and the perception of the market of each technology, to the final measurements of the achieved improvements. Therefore, in this paper, implementation guidelines on adapting new composite manufacturing processes to the shipbuilding industry are presented, based on their evolution from the initial state to the final improvements.

  Abstract
  Composites are still playing an important role in the strategic agendas of industries associated with the transport sector, such as the shipbuilding industry. This is mainly [...]

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• Impact properties of layer by layer in-situ UV cured composites

  I. Ruiz de Eguino, I. Saenz-Dominguez, I. Tena, M. Sarrionandia, J. Aurrekoetxea

  Materiales Compuestos (2024). Vol. 08 - COMUNICACIONES MATCOMP21 (2022) Y MATCOMP23 (2023), (Núm. 6 - Fabricación y Aplicaciones Industriales), 47

  
  

  Abstract

  Fast and eco-friendly composite curing technologies are highly sought after, and ultraviolet (UV) curing offers both features. UV curing can be applied as a bulk curing technology as long as light arrives at all the points in the material with enough intensity. Additionally, the outer layer cures almost instantaneously, reducing the emission of volatile organic compounds. Despite its benefits, the implementation of UV curing technology in composites manufacturing is still in an early stage, and more basic knowledge about its principles needs to be generated. For instance, when curing considerably thick laminates, the light arriving at the points in the material further from the exposed surface is insufficient for a one shot consolidation, requiring a layer-by-layer curing strategy. In the present paper, we explore several approaches for the layer-by-layer curing of a glass fibre reinforced unsaturated polyester composite. We assessed the impact properties of the manufactured laminates through drop weight low velocity impact tests to quantitatively evaluate the different approaches. We found that the laminate cured in three steps, applying four plies by shot, had the best impact performance, followed by the composite cured in two steps. On the other hand, the laminate cured in one shot had the worst impact properties, dissipating 20% less energy than the best performing laminate. Therefore, we conclude that the bonding of the UV cured laminates is tough and that the residual stresses induced during manufacturing are lessened the thinner the layers cured in each step are.

  Abstract
  Fast and eco-friendly composite curing technologies are highly sought after, and ultraviolet (UV) curing offers both features. UV curing can be applied as a bulk curing technology [...]

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