Process

A novel offset weaving method to create a 3D woven generic nodal structure

Winner: Sigmatex (UK)
Partners: Bentley (UK), NP Aerospace (UK),Qinetiq (UK).
Composites Integration (UK). Network Rail Infrastructure (UK). Tony Gee & Partners (UK). Pipex Structural Composites (UK), Oxford Brookes University (UK), University of Nottingham (UK)

 

 

 

Novel weave styles and processes have been used to overcome specific manufacturing problems. The node is near net shape with additional functionality from interweaving carbon fibre threads.The specific process off offset weaving can be used in other common designs where stiffness is a primary requirement.
In conjunction with the weaving of the 3D structure, tooling design was also completed and infusion techniques developed for infusing the component.


Multiple units can be manufactured in a repeatable fashion using weaving technology. Lay-up times to manufacture truss structures are reduced by weaving features and multiple layers at once. Other features can be woven into the truss to improve strength and conformability. Other materials can be interwoven throughout the structure for Structural Health Monitoring purposes.


The product has been developed as part of a consortium over the past 2 years.


There are thousands of railway. foot and canal bridges throughout Europe wich are coming to the end of their life. The requirement for high-strength, corrosion-free structures that could benefit from this technology is vast and potentially worth millions of euros. The technology can also be used in other automotive and aerospace applications, increasing the market potential significantly.


Other finalists in the Process category

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  •  A new direct compounding technology to producing semi-finished SMC parts presented by Dieffenbacher GmbH+Co.KG (Germany) with its partners Fraunhofer - Institut Chemische Technologie ICT (Germany) and DSM Composite Resins (Germany)
  •  A versatile heating technology for the production of complex composites presented by Faserinstitut Bremen FIBRE (Germany) with its partners Airbus Operations (Germany) sseThynKrupp Systems Engineering (Germany), Haindl Kunststoffverarbeitung (Germany) and Aero Consultants AG (Switzerland).