{"id":32315,"date":"2026-09-10T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-10T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cit.upc.edu\/portfolio-item\/materials-compostos-reciclables-i-intelligents-per-a-estructures-mes-lleugeres-segures-i-eficients\/"},"modified":"2026-09-04T10:05:42","modified_gmt":"2026-09-04T08:05:42","slug":"recyclable-and-smart-composite-materials-for-lighter-safer-and-more-efficient-structures","status":"publish","type":"portfolio","link":"https:\/\/cit.upc.edu\/en\/portfolio-item\/recyclable-and-smart-composite-materials-for-lighter-safer-and-more-efficient-structures\/","title":{"rendered":"Recyclable and smart composite materials for lighter, safer and more efficient structures"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

08\/09\/2026<\/p>
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The Control, Data and Artificial Intelligence (CoDAlab) research group at the Universitat Polit\u00e8cnica de Catalunya – BarcelonaTech (UPC) is taking part in the ATHENS project, which is developing recyclable thermoplastic composite materials with advanced real-time monitoring systems to improve the manufacture, safety and service life of lightweight structures.<\/h4>
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Composite materials play an increasingly important role in sectors such as urban transport, road vehicles and trains, where weight reduction, structural efficiency and durability are key factors in improving performance and reducing costs. However, traditional composites have significant limitations: they are often difficult to recycle, may require complex manufacturing processes and need reliable systems to ensure their integrity over time.<\/p>

ATHENS was created to address this challenge by developing recyclable thermoplastic materials and integrating smart monitoring technologies. Its aim is to create lighter and more efficient structures, optimise their manufacture through automated processes and incorporate embedded sensor networks that can monitor quality and diagnose their condition throughout their service life.<\/p>

The proposed solution combines recyclable composite materials, integrated sensors, cyber-physical systems, artificial intelligence and Hardware-in-the-Loop validation platforms (HiL, a validation technique in which a real physical system \u2014for example, a sensor, control unit, electronic device or monitoring system\u2014 is tested by connecting it to a simulation environment that reproduces real operating conditions). This approach makes it possible to monitor both the manufacturing process and the structural health of the final product, providing a complete view of the structure\u2019s behaviour from production through to real-world use.<\/p>

One of the project\u2019s main innovations is its ability to detect, identify and predict potential damage or failures before critical situations arise. Using the data collected by the sensors, the AI-powered system can generate preventive alerts and support more efficient maintenance decisions. ATHENS can therefore help to reduce maintenance and manufacturing costs, extend component service life, and improve the safety and reliability of structures made from composite materials.<\/p>

Within this framework, the UPC is responsible for the SNAPSHOT subproject, which focuses on developing the system\u2019s intelligence layer. Its contribution includes creating artificial intelligence algorithms and data acquisition systems for process control and structural health monitoring. SNAPSHOT is also developing a cyber-physical system capable of collecting data efficiently and securely from various sensors embedded in the structures, both during manufacturing and under operating conditions.<\/p>

The subproject also incorporates advanced AI techniques, including physics-informed machine learning, transfer learning and explainable AI models, to improve the accuracy, adaptability and interpretability of the monitoring system. HiL platforms will also be developed to simulate realistic operating conditions and validate the monitoring technologies and AI algorithms before they are deployed in real environments.<\/p>

Budget and Consortium<\/h4>

ATHENS will run for 36 months (September 2025-August 2028) and has a budget of \u20ac100,000.00. The project is coordinated by the Universidad Polit\u00e9cnica de Madrid (UPM), which is also responsible for ATHENS\u2019 other subproject, STRESS, focused on materials and manufacturing. <\/p>
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\"ATHENS\"

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Technology<\/h5>

Materials<\/a><\/p>
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Automotive<\/a><\/p>

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Circular Economy<\/a><\/p>
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