Aerostructural Efficiency of Damage Tolerant Composites via Optimised Fibre Placement

拟议的项目将创造新的能力，以提高层压碳纤维复合材料的结构效率。与现有的由预浸渍材料制成的加劲板相比，它将减少至少10%（甚至可能高达30%）的重量和生产成本。新方法将促进改变游戏规则的技术的发展。该项目的关键创新将是利用最先进的制造技术，可变角度牵引（VAT）放置（硬碳纤维沿着曲线引导，以最大化结构性能）。正在进行的研究表明，对于标准试样（试样）来说，这种节省是可以实现的，但需要新的理解来充分表征结构和材料的行为，从完整的组件水平到单个层及其界面。整个结构系统，包括材料，几何和制造参数将被优化。弯曲的纤维轨迹创造了额外的设计自由度，为提高结构效率提供了空间。学术团队为实现这一愿景提供了独特的能力。他们在复合材料和结构的制造，建模和设计方面有着良好的记录，并且通过关键的工业基地有明确的开发路线。他们的新型损伤容限建模技术表明，如果通过厚度层压优化来定制分层损伤的关键位置，则可以实现材料效率的大幅提高。该团队的初步VAT结果表明，开发无屈曲结构的前景，减少了对加强筋的需求，同时节省了大量成本和重量。此外，生产可变角度纤维的特定制造能力对英国来说是独一无二的，它是从一台刺绣机改装而来的，使用干纤维而不是预浸渍材料。空客和吉凯恩将为该项目提供29万英镑的直接资金。

The proposed project will create new capability to improve the structural efficiency of laminated carbon fibre composites. It will reduce weight and production cost by at least 10% (and possibly up to 30%) compared with existing stiffened panels made from pre-impregnated material. The new methods will facilitate the development of game-changing technology. The key innovation of the project will be to exploit state-of-the-art manufacturing, Variable Angle Tow (VAT) placement (where stiff carbon fibres are steered along curves to maximize structural performance). Ongoing studies suggest that such savings are achievable for standard test specimens (coupons) but new understanding is required to fully characterise structural and material behaviour from the full component level down to individual lamina and their interfaces. The entire structural system including material, geometrical and manufacturing parameters will be optimised. The extra design freedoms, created by curved fibre trajectories, provide scope for pushing back the envelope of structural efficiency. The academic team provide a unique capability to fulfil this vision. They have a proven track record in manufacture, modelling and design of composite materials and structures and have clear routes to exploitation via a pivotal industrial base. Their novel damage tolerance modelling techniques indicate that large improvements in material efficiency can be achieved if critical positions of delamination damage are tailored via through-thickness laminate optimisation. The team's preliminary VAT results indicate the prospect of developing buckle-free structures, reducing the need for stiffeners, with associated substantial cost and weight savings. Moreover, the specific manufacturing capability to produce variable angle fibres is unique to the UK, having been modified from an embroidery machine, using dry fibres rather than pre-impregnated material. Airbus and GKN will support the project with 290k of direct funding.