Project description
Uncertainty prediction tools for safe aircraft engines
Uncertainty Quantification (UQ) in aviation structures is essential to assessing risk and safety. The outlet guide vane (OGV) is a critical component in aviation engines. Its stiffness is crucial because it affects the engine’s performance and includes a significant load path from its core to the wing. In this context, the EU-funded UPBEAT project will develop new methods and tools for UQ to produce safer and more innovative aircraft engines and structures. It aims to optimise the design and manufacturing processes of metal-composite hybrid aerospace engine parts using metal additive manufacturing (AM) bonded with carbon fibre-reinforced polymers (CFRP), resulting in a 20-40 % weight reduction, 50-70 % fewer defects, and 30-50 % manufacturing costs and time a reduction.
Objective
Understanding and quantifying uncertainties (UQ) in aviation structures is vital to assessing risk and safety. UPBEAT will create novel UQ methods and tools to support the production of safer and more innovative aircraft structures and engines while reducing uncertainties in product and engineering lifecycles. The project focuses on metal-composite hybrid aerospace engine parts that are lighter, more durable and cheaper. Innovative design solutions for hybrid interfaces can be achieved using metal additive manufacturing (AM) bonded with carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP). Advanced models of materials and processes will be developed using sophisticated in-situ and ex-situ monitoring and metrology.
In aviation engines, the outlet guide vane (OGV) is an essential component that helps de-swirl the flow field from the fan. The OGV's stiffness is crucial as it influences the engine's performance and includes a major load path from its core to the wing. The OGV with two types of CFRP vanes and titanium end fittings will be used as a demonstrator. By combining AM with advanced in-situ melt pool monitoring and characterization (micro-CT & nanoindentation), digital models will be used to optimize design and manufacturing processes and increase awareness on efficiency, safety and risk. This will result in 20-40% weight reduction and 50-70% fewer defects. Streamlined product development reduces qualification time by 30-40% and costs by 25-35%. In-line quality assurance support lowers manufacturing costs by 30-50% and time by 20-30%. UPBEAT will:
✔ Increase understanding of the process, structure, property, & performance with safety focus
✔ Advance process models (AM, CFRP) for planning & optimization
✔ Develop verification and validation using multi-scale models
✔ Integrate UQ in design, materials, manufacturing, qualification, & certification
✔ Demonstration of UPBEAT technologies using a complex aviation use case
Fields of science
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringfibers
- natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistrytransition metals
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringaerospace engineeringaircraft
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcompositescarbon fibers
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringmanufacturing engineeringadditive manufacturing
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation ActionsCoordinator
2830 Raufoss
Norway