HEADER
Advanced Integrated
Composite Tail Cone
project deals with aircraft composite structure
development and production
Project Partners
PAGE MAIN CONTENT
NLR
The National Aerospace Laboratory NLR (Nationaal Lucht- en Ruimtevaartlaboratorium) is one of the Dutch Major Technological Institutes which perform a large part of the applied research in the Netherlands. As an independent non-profit organisation, NLR is the central institute for aerospace research in The Netherlands. NLR acts as a sole contractor or as a subcontractor cooperating with other institutes or partners from industry. A staff of approximately 700 people is employed at two sites.
Technical involvement in the proposal
- Samples Manufacturing, Characterisation and Process Orientation: manufacture samples with AFP, perform mechanical tests. Perform introduction of soluble fibres into the preform for increased toughness/damage tolerance will be done.
- Optical fibres Preliminary Material Properties for Design: introduction of optical fibres into the preform by AFP for reasons of health monitoring.
- Interactions between FP, Infusion, Nano & Z-reinforcement: Testing on coupon level and Structural Details level. Manage the technical issues and interactions between the different technologies selected, Final Material Characterisation.
- Fibre Placement: Optimization of the fibre placement head as specified in WP2 and WP4 in order to enhance speed of the machine and allowing for dry fibre, preliminary material characterisation.
- Tools: NLR will specify the constraints using the fibre placement simulation software. Manufacturing: produce the necessary Fibre Placement preforms for the full scale process validation except the tail cone skin and produce the necessary Fibre Placement preforms for the Elements and Details tests.
- Full scale test: NLR proposes to perform a full scale test on the tail cone. A predefined spectrum of static and fatigue testing will be performed.
Previous Experience relevant to these tasks
AUTOW -
Automated Preform Fabrication by Dry Tow Placement, a FP6-project, focuses on the automation of the preforming process by adapting existing fibre placement machines for dry tow placement.ALCAS -
Advanced Low Cost Aircraft Structures, a FP6-project, focuses on cost effective application of composites to aircraft primary structure, by reducing manufacturing costs.FALCOM -
Failure, performance and processing prediction for enhanced design with non-crimp fabric composites, a FP5-project focusing on preform materials.TANGO -
Technology Application to the Near-Term Business Goals and Objectives, a FP5-project, aimed at testing full scale composite fuselage panels manufactured by semi-automated dry tape laying.APRICOS -
Advanced Primary Composites Structures. This FP4-project was aimed at developing RTM technology for doors and fuselage panels.
