Objective
The CoSPI project aims at developing and manufacturing flat stiffened skin composite panel using infusion process. This kind of process often leads to the reduction of manufacturing costs while lessening the environmental impact of the production.
Before manufacturing the panels, we propose to study three different processes: cold infusion, Liquid Resin Infusion and Resin Film infusion. The major development efforts will be on the impact behaviour. This behaviour is a critical issue for parts obtained by infusion and has to be acceptable for primary structure parts. Several parameters will be studied such as the resins, the weaving, the preform type, curing in an oven or an autoclave, in order to optimise the triptych process-composite preform-resin. Thus a trade-off study will be carried out in order to choose the best infusion process in terms of mechanical behaviour, costs and environmental impact.
The environmental impact will be at the heart of the CoSPI project. Minimising waste, energy consumption and the use of noxious products is one of the main objectives of this project.
To achieve the objectives, the CoSPI will experiment some innovative ideas, such as the use of resins usually dedicated to pre-pregs in LRI and RFI techniques. Some new weaving method will also be investigated. Thus, mutiaxial warp knit fabrics will be tested, again for improving the impact resistance of the panels.
Three partners are part of this project: UBO a French university, CC a Swiss SME and FMC a French SME. UBO has a wide experience of infusion processes and has already been part of projects on this topic. FMC and CC are two SMEs specialised in high technology composite parts manufacturing. They will both bring to the project solid know-how and high-value equipments for coupon manufacturing.
Expected impacts involve both dissemination and training material for the academic partners and exploitation of new infusion techniques for the SMEs.
Call for proposal
SP1-JTI-CS-2010-05
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Funding Scheme
JTI-CS - Joint Technology Initiatives - Clean SkyCoordinator
29238 BREST
France