Activated thread curing of liquid adhesives

A composite structure, comprising:

• a first substrate having a first surface;
• a second substrate having a second surface;
• a cured adhesive disposed between the first and second surfaces;
• and
• fiber optic cable disposed within the cured adhesive and between the first and second surfaces, wherein a gap between the first and second surfaces has a distance in accordance with a diameter of the fiber optic cable, wherein the cured adhesive was formed from a liquid adhesive that was cured by a curing process wherein ultraviolet light was passed through the fiber optic cable so as to cure at least a portion of the liquid adhesive.

A method of forming a composite structure having a first substrate and a second substrate, comprising:

• dispensing a fiber optic cable disposed within a liquid adhesive onto a portion of a first surface of the first substrate, the liquid adhesive curable by exposure to ultraviolet light;
• aligning a second surface of the second substrate with respect to the portion of the first surface;
• pressing the first and second surfaces together such that a gap is formed between the first and second surfaces, the gap having a distance in accordance with a diameter of the fiber optic cable;
• during the pressing, curing the liquid adhesive by passing ultraviolet light through the fiber optic cable so as to expose the liquid adhesive to ultraviolet light, wherein the gap between the first and second surfaces has a distance that remains in accordance with the diameter of the fiber optic cable after the liquid adhesive is cured;
• determining if rework of the composite structure is required;
• and
• when it is determined that rework is required, reactivating the fiber optic cable by passing ultraviolet light though the fiber optic cable after the liquid adhesive is cured.