Research Projects

Innovative fatigue and damage tolerance methods for the application of new structural concepts

Start date:2005-04-01
End date:2008-09-30
Project Acronym: DATON
 

Coordinator
Organization name: TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY BRAUNSCHWEIG
Contact person: Peter HORST (Professor)
Address: INST. OF AICRAFT DESIGN AND LIGHTWEIGHT STRUCTURES Hermann-Blenk-Str. 35, BRAUNSCHWEIG, DEUTSCHLAND

Region:NIEDERSACHSEN BRAUNSCHWEIG Braunschweig, Kreisfreie Stadt
Tel:+49-5313919901
Fax:+49-5313919904
URL:http://www.tu-bs.de/institute/ifl/
Organization Type:Education
Description

Objective: In order to allow the industry to use newly developed manufacturing methods, which all promise high efficiency but lack a good damage tolerance capability under certain circumstances, the proposed project aims to develop new damage tolerance assessment too ls for the new and high performance manufacturing techniques: High Speed Cutting (HSC), Laser Beam Welding (LBW) and Friction Stir Welding (FSW), all three leading to a type of structure which is close to an ntergral structural design. This design offers b enefits, e.g. from the cost point of view, but also some concerns from the damage tolerance capacity point of view. Since the damage tolerance behavior of structures s a crucial point in the application of the new techniques, it limits today it's applicati on. Therefore, the DaToN project provides an important step forward for strengthening competitiveness of the European aeronautic industry by contributing to the aircraft development and operating costs reduction via the development of advanced and high dam age tolerance performance structural concepts using bothnew automated fast manufacturing processes and new metallic materials for optimizing the inducedstructural weight reduction.The present proposal aims to provide missing fundamental knowledge and ass essment tools for the damage tolerance of integrally stiffened structures, which are produced by means of the three new production methods: LBW, FSW and HSC.The project does not aim to develop the manufacturing techniques. The main scientific and technolog ical objectives of the project are : o To develop and validate calculation tools for the assessment and the understanding of the damage tolerance behaviour of integrally stiffened structures using high performance manufacturing processes : High Speed Cu tting. Laser beam Welding and Friction Stir Welding. o To analyze the impact of the manufacturing process on the fatigue and damage tolerance behaviour

More information about the details of the project can be found under

Aeronautical application of wrought magnesium

Start date: 2005-03-01
End date: 2008-12-31
Project Acronym: AEROMAG
 

Coordinator
Organization name: EADS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
Contact person: Elke HOMBERGSMEIER (Ms.)
Address: CORPORATE RESEARCH CENTER GERMANY, DEPARTMENT SC/IRT/LG-MT
Willy-Messerschmitt-Strasse, MUNICH, DEUTSCHLAND

Region:BAYERN OBERBAYERN M?nchen, Kreisfreie Stadt
Tel:+49-89-60720888
Fax:+49-89-60725408
URL:http://www.eads.net
Organization Type:Industry
Description

Objective: Magnesium with a density of only 65% of aluminium, could be a break through technology in the aerospace industry if used for cost efficient, low weight components and airframe structures. However, to use this low weight material the mechanical and technolo gical properties have to be improved. The technical focus of the university driven proposal, AEROMAG which has been prepared in close collaboration to the Network of Universities "EASN" is the development of new Magnesium wrought products (sheets and extr usions), that provide significantly improved static and fatigue strength properties. The strength properties of these innovative materials are required to be as high as AA5083 for non-structural applications and as high as AA2024 aluminium alloys for secon dary structure applications. At first new alloys will be developed and existing alloys will be tested. Appropriate manufacturing (rolling, extrusion), forming and joining technologies require development, simulation and validation for the innovative mater ial and application. Corrosion is a problem to be solved with newly adapted and environmentally friendly surface protection systems and advanced design concepts. Flammability will be addressed with addition of chemical elements and special surface treatmen ts. A further essential task is the development of material models and failure criteria for the prediction of forming processes, plastic deformation and failure behaviour of components. Finally material adapted design and the evaluation of structural beha viour will be investigated to close the process and development chain for aeronautic components. The technological objective is a weight reduction of fuselage parts, systems and interior components up to 35%. The strategic objectives are an increase in th e operational capacity of 10%, a reduction in the direct operating cost of 10% and finally a reduction in the fuel consumption of 10% and therefore a reduced environmental impact.

More information about the details of the project can be found under