Apparatus for molding a shell element made of composite material, particularly a hull of a boat, and method thereof

A method for monitoring a mold for molding a shell hull, in composite material, of a boat, the method comprising:

• (a) providing an apparatus for molding the shell hull, the apparatus comprising:
• a first mold part and a second mold part, wherein the first mold part and the second mold part each have a respective molding surface,
• the first mold part and the second mold part being adapted to be coupled to define jointly a concave molding cavity for molding the shell hull of the boat, the molding cavity being delimited on two opposed sides by the respective molding surfaces of said first mold part and of said second mold part, and extending longitudinally between a stern end and a bow end;
• a humidity sensor adapted to detect humidity at the first mold part and/or at the second mold part;
• and
• a plurality of sensor means, arranged in a respective plurality of detection positions on a detection surface that extends on at least one of said first mold part and said second mold part, and arranged directly in contact with at least one of said first mold part and said second mold part, the detection surface being arranged opposite to the molding surface of such mold part;
• wherein the sensor means of the plurality of sensor means are adapted to generate a plurality of signals representative of respective strains of the detection surface in directions substantially perpendicular to the detection surface in the respective detection positions;
• and
• (b) producing, in a plurality of detection positions, by said sensor means, a plurality of signals representative of respective strains of the detection surface of the first mold part and/or of the second mold part, in directions substantially perpendicular to the detection surface.

A method for manufacturing a shell hull, in composite material, of a boat, the method comprising:

• (x1) carrying out monitoring by a method for monitoring a mold for molding the shell hull, comprising:
• (a) providing an apparatus for molding the shell hull, the apparatus comprising:
• a first mold part and a second mold part, wherein the first mold part and the second mold part each have a respective molding surface,
• the first mold part and the second mold part being adapted to be coupled to define jointly a concave molding cavity for molding the shell hull of the boat,
• the molding cavity being delimited on two opposed sides by the respective molding surfaces of said first mold part and of said second mold part, and extending longitudinally between a stern end and a bow end;
• a humidity sensor adapted to detect humidity at the first mold part and/or at the second mold part;
• and
• a plurality of sensor means, arranged in a respective plurality of detection positions on a detection surface that extends on at least one of said first mold part and said second mold part, and arranged directly in contact with at least one of said first mold part and said second mold part, the detection surface being arranged opposite to the molding surface of such mold part;
• wherein the sensor means of the plurality of sensor means are adapted to generate a plurality of signals representative of respective strains of the detection surface in directions substantially perpendicular to the detection surface in the respective detection positions;
• and
• (b) producing, in a plurality of detection positions, by said sensor means, a plurality of signals representative of respective strains of the detection surface of the first mold part and/or of the second mold part, in directions substantially perpendicular to the detection surface;
• (x2) arranging at least one layer of reinforcement material, or of fibrous material, inside said molding cavity;
• and
• (x3) following step (x2), injecting a thermosetting resin inside said molding cavity so as to fill said molding cavity and/or to cover the molding surface.