Thermal Modeling Base High-Temperature Polymer Matrix Composite (PMC) Structural Repair

Lightweight Polymer Matrix Composites (PMCs) and metal structures in military and commercial aircraft, can often be subjected to complex damage requiring bonded repair. The current repair method involves time-consuming, costly, and often unreliable thermal surveys to control thermal uniformity which often results in tedious trial-and-error experimentation. Convergent Manufacturing Technologies US (CMT-US) proposes a workflow-based solution that optimizes, automates, reduces risk, and documents a composite repair design through minimized thermal testing and idealized simulation modeling. This repair simulation and design optimization system will seamlessly integrate Convergents commercial off the shelf simulation products (COMPRO, RAVEN, etc.) with thermal exposing and sensing within the repair workflow for a more accurate repair assessment and resolution. CMT-US has previously demonstrated an approach for developing simplified models which can be used to investigate a repair area. CMT-US plans to further develop and grow the sustainable strategy by investigating strategically designed case studies with increasing complexities. The goal of this effort is to alleviate the need for tedious thermal surveys, therefore reducing repair time and cost.