Abstract: Methods and apparatus for manufacturing a thermoplastic structure include laying a first plurality of braided plies on a mandrel, and laying one or more unidirectional plies on the plurality of braided plies. A second plurality of braided plies is laid on the one or more unidirectional plies. The layup thereby forms a thermoplastic structure having combined braided and unidirectional plies.

Abstract: Methods, formulations, and applications of increasing intracellular glutathione levels with at least one injectable cell membrane permeable prodrug or derivative of cysteine, glutamylcysteine, glutathione, or a combination thereof, to treat, reduce, or prevent cellular and tissue oxidative damage, to increase levels of amino acids, and to treat numerous disease states and conditions including inborn errors of metabolism, nutritional malabsorption, and aging.

Abstract: At least one braided composite layer configured to form a first ply may be provided. A plurality of slit tapes may be arranged and aligned such that each slit tape is adjacent to one another and non-overlapping, to form a second ply. A hybrid composite laminate may be formed by stacking a plurality of plies that includes at least one first ply and at least one second ply. Each slit tape may be a steered unidirectional composite slit tape that is aligned along an axis, contour line, or curve of the hybrid composite laminate, a mold/tooling used to shape the laminate, or the resulting composite part. Hybrid composite laminates may be formed by stacking at least one first ply formed of a braided composite layer and at least one second ply formed from a plurality of slit tapes. Composite parts may be formed by consolidating such hybrid composite laminates.

Abstract: A system to aid in design for manufacturing an object includes a processor and a memory configured to store instructions. The processor is configured to receive first data representing a design of the object to be manufactured and second data representing a machine-learning model. The processor is configured to execute the instructions to generate third data using the first data and the second data. The third data indicates at least one of a modification to the design of the object or process conditions for production of the object. The processor is configured to send the design of the object, the process conditions, or both, to a manufacturing tool to enable production of the object. The machine-learning model is representative of production data and based at least partially on one or more of: object features, process parameters, environmental factors, and quality data.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling welding. One embodiment is a method for controlling welding of a composite part. The method includes locating a linear fiber optic sensor along a composite part comprising a matrix of thermoplastic reinforced by fibers, measuring temperatures along the weld line via the linear fiber optic sensor, performing induction welding at the composite part along the weld line, determining a continuum of weld temperatures along the weld line, and controlling the induction welding based on the continuum of weld temperatures.

Abstract: A material system may include: an aluminum layer; a glass composite layer adjacent to the first aluminum layer; and a carbon composite layer adjacent to the first glass composite layer, and opposite to the first aluminum layer. A method of manufacturing a material system may include: stacking an aluminum layer, glass composite layer that may include thermoplastic prepreg plies, and carbon composite layer so that the aluminum layer is adjacent to the glass composite layer, and the glass composite layer is adjacent to the carbon composite layer; and consolidating the thermoplastic prepreg plies to soften the aluminum layer. A method of manufacturing a material system may include: stacking an aluminum layer, glass composite layer that comprises thermoplastic resin, and carbon composite layer so that the glass composite layer is between the aluminum and carbon composite layers; and adjusting temperature and pressure to consolidate the stack.

Abstract: A laminate structure may include: an aluminum layer; a glass composite layer adjacent to the aluminum layer; and/or a carbon composite layer adjacent to the glass composite layer, opposite to the aluminum layer. The glass composite layer may include one or more glass-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic prepreg plies. The carbon composite layer may include one or more carbon-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic prepreg plies. A laminate structure may include: a first aluminum layer; a first glass composite layer adjacent to the first aluminum layer; a first carbon composite layer adjacent to the first glass composite layer, and opposite to the first aluminum layer; and/or a second glass composite layer adjacent to the first carbon composite layer, and opposite to the first glass composite layer. The first glass composite layer may include one or more glass-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic prepreg plies. The first carbon composite layer may include one or more carbon-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic prepreg plies.

Abstract: A material system may include: an aluminum layer; a glass composite layer adjacent to the first aluminum layer; and a carbon composite layer adjacent to the first glass composite layer, and opposite to the first aluminum layer. A method of manufacturing a material system may include: stacking an aluminum layer, glass composite layer that may include thermoplastic prepreg plies, and carbon composite layer so that the aluminum layer is adjacent to the glass composite layer, and the glass composite layer is adjacent to the carbon composite layer; and consolidating the thermoplastic prepreg plies to soften the aluminum layer. A method of manufacturing a material system may include: stacking an aluminum layer, glass composite layer that comprises thermoplastic resin, and carbon composite layer so that the glass composite layer is between the aluminum and carbon composite layers; and adjusting temperature and pressure to consolidate the stack.

Abstract: A laminate structure may include: an aluminum layer; a glass composite layer adjacent to the aluminum layer; and/or a carbon composite layer adjacent to the glass composite layer, opposite to the aluminum layer. The glass composite layer may include one or more glass-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic prepreg plies. The carbon composite layer may include one or more carbon-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic prepreg plies. A laminate structure may include: a first aluminum layer; a first glass composite layer adjacent to the first aluminum layer; a first carbon composite layer adjacent to the first glass composite layer, and opposite to the first aluminum layer; and/or a second glass composite layer adjacent to the first carbon composite layer, and opposite to the first glass composite layer. The first glass composite layer may include one or more glass-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic prepreg plies. The first carbon composite layer may include one or more carbon-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic prepreg plies.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling welding. One embodiment is a method for controlling welding of a composite part. The method includes locating a linear fiber optic sensor along a composite part comprising a matrix of thermoplastic reinforced by fibers, measuring temperatures along the weld line via the linear fiber optic sensor, performing induction welding at the composite part along the weld line, determining a continuum of weld temperatures along the weld line, and controlling the induction welding based on the continuum of weld temperatures.

Abstract: A system to aid in design for manufacturing an object includes a processor and a memory configured to store instructions. The processor is configured to receive first data representing a design of the object to be manufactured and second data representing a machine-learning model. The processor is configured to execute the instructions to generate third data using the first data and the second data. The third data indicates at least one of a modification to the design of the object or process conditions for production of the object. The processor is configured to send the design of the object, the process conditions, or both, to a manufacturing tool to enable production of the object. The machine-learning model is representative of production data and based at least partially on one or more of: object features, process parameters, environmental factors, and quality data.

Abstract: A material system may include: an aluminum layer; a glass composite layer adjacent to the first aluminum layer; and a carbon composite layer adjacent to the first glass composite layer, and opposite to the first aluminum layer. A method of manufacturing a material system may include: stacking an aluminum layer, glass composite layer that may include thermoplastic prepreg plies, and carbon composite layer so that the aluminum layer is adjacent to the glass composite layer, and the glass composite layer is adjacent to the carbon composite layer; and consolidating the thermoplastic prepreg plies to soften the aluminum layer. A method of manufacturing a material system may include: stacking an aluminum layer, glass composite layer that comprises thermoplastic resin, and carbon composite layer so that the glass composite layer is between the aluminum and carbon composite layers; and adjusting temperature and pressure to consolidate the stack.

Abstract: A laminate structure may include: an aluminum layer; a glass composite layer adjacent to the aluminum layer; and/or a carbon composite layer adjacent to the glass composite layer, opposite to the aluminum layer. The glass composite layer may include one or more glass-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic prepreg plies. The carbon composite layer may include one or more carbon-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic prepreg plies. A laminate structure may include: a first aluminum layer; a first glass composite layer adjacent to the first aluminum layer; a first carbon composite layer adjacent to the first glass composite layer, and opposite to the first aluminum layer; and/or a second glass composite layer adjacent to the first carbon composite layer, and opposite to the first glass composite layer. The first glass composite layer may include one or more glass-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic prepreg plies. The first carbon composite layer may include one or more carbon-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic prepreg plies.

Abstract: A fabrication method of forming a thermoplastic composite laminate material with tailored and varying thickness in a continuous process. This process utilizes automated equipment or hand lay-up to collate parts or components into a multi-layer stack. Each stack contains all plies, including ply build-up areas, tacked in the proper location to maintain orientation and location. The consolidation tooling contains all necessary part features and is coordinated to the customized multiple ply stacks to form a single integrated thermoplastic composite laminate potentially having areas of differing thickness from these multiple ply stacks.

Abstract: Thermoplastic composite laminate parts with tailored and varying thickness and/or curved sections are manufactured in a continuous process. Automated equipment or hand lay-up is used to collate parts or components into a multi-layer stack. Each stack contains all plies, including ply build-up areas, tacked in the proper location to maintain orientation and location. Some or all of the plies may be continuously fed from spools of single or multiply ply material. Ply consolidation tooling contains all necessary part features and is coordinated to the customized multiple ply stacks to form a single integrated thermoplastic composite laminate potentially having areas of differing thickness from the multiple ply stacks.