Qualitative Process Automation for Autoclave Curing of Composites.
Abstract
An adaptive or self-directed control system was first devised by the Air Force Wright Laboratory's Materials Directorate. This system, referred to as Qualitative Process Automation (QPA), uses sensors located on the part to determine the state of the resin in real time. Instead of process decisions being based on an inflexible, predetermined schedule of changes in temperature and pressure, these changes are determined based on the actual state (stages in the chemical reaction) of the material when they occur. This allows the engineer to define the desired product and allows the process to vary to achieve that product. This contrast with the current method, which prescribes the processing schedule and merely monitors material behavior during processing, has led to a significant reduction in cure times for production parts....Qualitative process automation, Polymer, Composites, Autoclave curing, Expert systems.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA260536
Entities
People
- R. Warnock
- S. R. Leclair
Organizations
- Wright Laboratory