Composite materials are increasingly important in making high-performance products. However, contemporary composites manufacturing processes still encounter significant challenges that range from inherent material stochasticity to manufacturing process variabilities. This paper proposes a novel smart Industrial Internet of Things framework, which is also referred to as an Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) framework for composites manufacturing. This framework improves production performance through real-time process monitoring and AI-based forecasting. It comprises three main components: (i) an array of temperature, heat flux, dielectric, and flow sensors for data acquisition from production machines and products being made, (ii) an IoT-based platform for instantaneous sensor data integration and visualisation, and (iii) an AI-based model for production process forecasting. Via these components, the framework performs real-time production process monitoring, visualisation, and prediction of future process states. This paper also presents a proof-of-concept implementation of the framework and a real-world composites manufacturing case study that showcases its benefits.

This work investigates the effects of interlayer hybrid fiber dispersion on the impact response of carbon-flax epoxy hybrid laminates at low carbon volume fractions, and benchmarks the mechanical performance enhancement against the non-hybrid flax epoxy. Five hybrid laminate stacking sequences with similar carbon-to-flax weight ratio were fabricated and subjected to low-velocity impact at three different energy values, generating non-perforated and perforated damage states. A virtual drop-weight impact test that models intralaminar failure based on continuum damage mechanics approach, and delamination using cohesive elements, was also implemented to evaluate the material behavior and damage development in the composites. Simulation results were then verified against experimental data. Results suggested that positioning stiffer carbon plies at the impact face does not necessarily lead to enhancement of the hybrid's impact properties. On the contrary, flax plies at the impacted side lead to significant improvement in impact resistance compared to the non-hybrid flax composite with similar thickness. Results of finite element analysis showed that carbon plies play a significant role in the hybrid laminate's energy absorption characteristics due to lower failure strain.