Innovative, low-cost manufacturing of a wing-box section

Sie sind hier: Homepage > Suche

Innovative, low-cost manufacturing of a wing-box section

Hattum, F.W.J. van / Labordus, M. / Tooren, M.J.L. van

Aerospace in general, but more specific composite structures in aerospace are usually not associated with low costs. Expensive materials and production processes are being used and assembly is still labour intensive. Furthermore, the introduction of new low cost materials or new low cost production processes is hampered, due to expensive certification procedures. To maintain competitive, however, drastic innovations are necessary. Besides certification issues, the most promising routes for cost reduction are developing concepts to increase the level of integration, developing low cost production methods and simulation tools to assist production and utilising low cost resin systems and multi-axial reinforcements. The current project aims at the aforementioned design, production process and material development routes to obtain cost reductions in advanced composites for aerospace applications. A highly integrated redesign has been made of a generic wing-box section, largely reducing assembly costs and parts count. Using Aeronite, a novel room temperature curing vinylester-urethane-hybrid resin system, a low-cost, room temperature, closed mould (non-autoclave) resin infusion production processes has been developed and used in the production of the first demonstrator parts. Dedicated simulation tools were used to develop injection strategies at an early stage in the design process. Initial evaluation of the parts shows the potential of the followed route for the cost-effective production of composite parts with an increased repeatability and a high degree of integration.