Abstract

Composite epoxy resin based structures are widely and increasingly used at aerospace sector. Conventional composite processing requires the use of pre-impregnated raw material that requires refrigerated storage and autoclave use for the component consolidation. ADS jointly with Mtorres and with Hexcel support, have been intensely involved in the development of a Dry fibre automatic lamination, Liquid resin infusion and oven consolidation technology process (shortly referred as LRI) which permits the elimination of this energy consuming steps in order to improve the sustainability and reduce manufacturing costs so as allowing an increasing component integration reducing structural weight.

A LRI integrated lower cover with spars and stiffening elements has been delivered by CBC for its integration into an Outer external wing box specimen for its test, scheduled as the latest Milestone of Clean Sky 2 AIRFRAME ITD project (supported also by IIAMS, MALTA, CERTERIN R&T projects). This specimen will be assembled through a jiggles process with the delivered thermoplastic Upper Cover. The full scale test will complete the testing pyramid after having completed the previous steps: coupon, detail, panel level.

This partial Lower cover demo so as the Full Scale test, in which it will be integrated, will contribute to the TRL6 maturity status of the technology.