US 5,844,669 A · Detecting and minimizing fiber misalignment in a composite during manufacturing

Abstract

A method for detecting misalignment of initially-aligned fiber filaments in a composite. An optical fiber is placed among the fiber filaments in the composite, light is directed into the optical fiber, the intensity of the light in the optical fiber is measured during subsequent composite processing, and attenuation in such light intensity is ascertained which indicates such misalignment (e.g., wrinkling, bending, buckling, porosity, delamination and the like) is being detected during such processing. In another preferred method, before-processing and after-processing x-ray images are taken of an x-ray-attenuating fiber which has been placed among x-ray-transparent fiber filaments in a composite.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method for detecting misalignment of initially-generally-aligned fiber filaments in a composite during subsequent processing of said composite, said method comprising the sequential steps of:

a) disposing at least a portion of an optical fiber among said fiber filaments in said composite before said subsequent processing of said composite;
b) directing light from a first location in said optical fiber towards a second location in said optical fiber during said subsequent processing of said composite;
c) measuring the intensity of said light from said second location during said subsequent processing of said composite;
and
d) ascertaining if the measured light intensity is attenuated at any time during said subsequent processing of said composite, said attenuation indicating misalignment at said time of said fiber filaments during said subsequent processing of said composite.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Detecting and minimizing fiber misalignment in a composite during manufacturing

Life of this patent

Detecting and minimizing fiber misalignment in a composite during manufacturing

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18