ASSESS · Automated online monitoring of smart composite structures

Composite materials are characterised by their unique “smart” capability of integrating nanomaterials and permanently installed sensing devices to enable accurate monitoring of the structural integrity. However, the full-scale industrial use of smart composites is hindered by the lack of wireless and easy-to-install embeddable sensors, automated and reliable data processing methods for damage diagnosis and prognosis in real-life operational conditions, accurate modelling tools, standardisation procedures, and trained operators. The ASSESS project aims to address all these issues and bridge the gap between research and industry by designing, manufacturing, and testing new-generation smart Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites through the research activities of 12 Doctoral Candidates (DCs). The ASSESS consortium will leverage multi-disciplinary collaborations between world-leading organisations in structural health monitoring, materials and computer science, aerospace and civil engineering to develop a novel research & training programme in Europe for the structural integrity of smart composites.Through extensive research, training events and secondments, DCs will embrace diverse emerging technologies, such as smart composites, advanced simulations, wireless sensors, artificial intelligence data-driven approaches and digital twins. These technologies will be key enablers towards Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things for the most strategic industries in Europe such as aviation, space, and wind energy, and support their future careers in these fields. Smart composites will empower safer, more lightweight, and structurally efficient composite aerospace components and wind turbine blades, which in turn will contribute to reduce material waste, aircraft fuel consumption, C02 emissions and enhance renewable wind energy production. Hence, ASSESS will play a pivotal role in the context of future European green energy and transportation.