Advanced Manufacturing

Main research lines

Industry 4.0

Virtual testing of structural composites. Analysis of the effect of manufacturing defects on structural performance.
Virtual processing of structural composites including hot-forming and out-of-autoclave (injection, infusion, compression moulding). Surrogate and reduced order models for manufacturing based on multiphysics simulations.
AI techniques applied to manufacturing. Digital twins for manufacturing processes. Smart detection of defects by sensors including the active control of manufacturing systems.
Structural health monitoring (SHM) with carbon nanotube yarns integrated sensors. Automated damage detection models based on AI.
AI-guided materials design and chemical process.
Electric current-assisted curing for bondings and repairs.
Multifunctional composites for structural and energy storage applications.

Bulk nanostructured materials

Gas-phase assembly of continuous fabrics and fibres of carbon nanotubes and inorganic nanowires (Si, SiC).
Integration of these nanostructured fabrics into electrochemical devices and composite materials.

Rapid alloy prototyping and manufacturing of bulk alloy libraries for the fast assessment of properties.
Optimisation of casting processes.
Development of novel thermo-mechanical processes and powder metallurgy routes via mechanical alloying and gas atomization in non-oxidation conditions.
Consolidation by field-assisted sintering and conventional press and sintering.

3D printing

Metallic materials, including powder design, fabrication and characterization.
Composites, polymers, recycled fibers and hybrids.
PLA composite materials reinforced with Mg, Zn or CaPs nanoparticles and continuous metallic wires.
Development of functional thermoplastic filaments (flame retardant, thermal conductive, biodegradable, reinforced, electrically conductive, etc) for 3D printing.
Data-driven design of 3D printed metamaterials.
Custom-made implants using new biocompatible alloys.
Stereolithography, including resin synthesis and characterization.
Extrusion-based 3D printing of biomaterials and bioprinting.
Predictive simulation.
In-situ monitoring.