| Operational |
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• Development of maintenance processes.
• Training of maintenance operators.
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| Structural Health Monitoring |
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• Whole structure monitoring using sensor technology based on optical fibres (Bragg grating, Brillouin scattering) and piezoelectric transducers.
• Repair and critical area monitoring using fibre optic sensors and vacuum gallery sensors in critical areas including joints and early detection of repair degradation.
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| Repair and Rehabilitation Assessment |
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• Non-destructive inspection (NDI) and survey of damage in monolithic and sandwich composites.
• Evaluation of criticality of damage; prediction of effect on performance and safety of a structure.
• Advice on suitable type of repair to damaged composites and rehabilitation of ageing composite structures.
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| Design of Repairs |
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• Designs from reverse-engineered and OEM data.
• 2D/3D analysis.
• Impact simulation & failure modelling.
• Joint failure modelling for fastened composites and adhesives.
• Elasto-plastic and cohesive models for adhesive systems.
• Composite repairs for metallic structures.
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| New Repair Technology |
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• Flush/stealth features.
• Rapid in-situ curing.
• Pre-manufacture of repair panels.
• Optimised implementation of scarf joints
• Integration of strain- and vibration-based SHM technologies.
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| Materials and Testing |
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• Full characterisation and testing of adhesive performance in repair.
• Manufacture and validation testing of full-scale prototypes.
• Development of coatings for improved performance. |
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