FEA-SMC: Enabling short fibre composites in high-performance aerospace applications through robust simulation technology

Creative Composites、Entreity Ltd、WMG和Simutence将与SPIRIT AerosSystems合作开发一种新的软件解决方案，以预测SMC复合材料的结构性能，并使其能够在航空航天应用中使用。SMC是一种非连续纤维模压复合材料，通常用于高性能汽车应用。其碳纤维增强变种(称为C-SMC)具有比铝更高的比强度和硬度，而材料成本和循环时间比连续CFRP更低。该联盟将开发一种软件工具，可以准确预测这些材料的变化行为，并考虑到成型过程中流动的影响。弥补预测分析方面的差距，并向航空航天行业开放这种低成本、轻量化技术的更多应用。该项目将包括结构飞机部件的设计优化和制造，以验证这一新的软件工具，并展示它如何使C-SMC能够与传统航空航天材料竞争。

Creative Composites, Engenuity Ltd, WMG and Simutence will be working together with Spirit Aerosystems to develop a new software solution to predict the structural performance of SMC composite materials and enable their use in aerospace applications. SMC is a discontinuous fibre, moulded composite commonly used for performance automotive applications. Its carbon fibre reinforced variants (known as C-SMC) can have higher specific strength and stiffness than aluminium, with lower material cost and cycle time than continuous CFRP.The consortium will develop a software tool that can accurately predict the variable behaviour of these materials taking into account the effect of flow during moulding. Bridging a gap in predictive analysis and opening up the aerospace industry to more applications of this low-cost, light weighting technology. The project will include the design optimisation and manufacture of a structural aircraft component to validate this new software tool, and demonstrate how it can enable C-SMC to compete with conventional aerospace materials.