Nonlinear Control of Liquid Molding of Advanced Composites with Simulations and Sensor/Actuator Optimization

液态复合材料成型（LCM）是一种多功能和有吸引力的工艺，用于大批量、高性能和低成本制造聚合物复合材料，在制造业的几乎所有领域都越来越突出。 目前，加工成本惊人，因为每个新的应用或原型都需要许多试验和校正周期，然后才能制造出符合规格的成功零件。该项目的目标是：（1）开发LCM过程的真实仿真，并使用仿真工具开发控制策略，并优化真实的时间控制器的传感器位置;（2）制定非线性控制策略，可以解释部分到部分的变化和其他敏感的模型参数，并导致成型过程的最佳完成;（3）对先进复合材料制造中的非线性控制进行了实验研究。 本研究在理论和实验之间取得了平衡。 本研究的成果可能会导致：（1）制造过程的数值模拟和智能计算工具，这将有助于优化传感器和致动器的位置，并为给定的模具几何形状开发非线性控制策略：（2）先进复合材料制造的非线性控制理论;以及（3）可以演示实际部件的复合材料制造的控制的液体成型设备。

Liquid Composite Molding (LCM) is a versatile and attractive process for high volume, high performance, and low cost manufacturing of polymer composites that is gaining prominence in almost all areas of the manufacturing industry. At present, the processing costs are staggering as every new application or prototype requires many trial and correction cycles before one can manufacture a successful part within specifications. The objectives of this project are: (1) developing a realistic simulation of the LCM process and using the simulation tool to develop control strategies and to optimize the sensor locations for the real time controller; (2) formulating non-linear control strategies that can account for part-to part variation and other sensitive model parameters and lead to optimal finishing of the molding process; and (3) Verifying the nonlinear controls for advanced composite manufacturing with experiments. The research has a balance between theory and experimentation. The outcome of this research may lead to: (1) numerical simulation of the manufacturing process and an intelligent computational tool that will help to optimize the sensor and actuator locations and develop nonlinear control strategies for a given mold geometry; (2) a nonlinear control theory for advanced composite manufacturing; and (3) a liquid molding facility that can demonstrate the control of the composite manufacturing of a realistic part.