Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS
Content archived on 2024-06-16

Development of Short Distance WELding Concepts for AIRframes (WEL-AIR project)

Objective

The age of sustainable growth in which the world aeronautics is entering will require to the Research and Technology development to contribute to the strengthening of the competitiveness of the aeronautic manufacturing industry with more economical, performant and better quality products.

Weight and cost efficiency will be obtained on the "Integral Structure" or "Rivet-Free"Al-alloy airframes through the use of advanced welding technologies such as laser beam (LBW) and friction stir welding (FSW) and the introduction of new aluminium alloys with improved performances : welded integral structures are claimed to offer a cost saving of up to 60% over built-up structures.

Large distance LBW skin-stringer joints for manufacturing of panels of the current fuselage of A318 are used and similar applications are also planned for other next generation aircrafts. Now, there is a need to extend this current level of technological achievement to "more critical and difficult-to-join" sections of the metallic airframes through replacement of conventional riveted sub-sections with short distance welded integral structure which exhibits lightweight and damage tolerant features.

The main scientific and technological objectives of the project are :
* To optimise and validate the most suitable short distance LBW process parameters for various Al-alloy combinations for joining of stiffener/cleat-skin connections (containing run-outs) of the airframes by understanding and control the basic mechanisms of the hot tearing, crack initiation and crack growth.
* To develop short distance friction stir welding process for some FSW suitable joints and non laser weldable alloys and hence gaining new knowledge for both joining processes for such new applications.
* To develop repair schemes of short distance welds and define allowable damages to minimize the maintenance and operational costs.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.

You need to log in or register to use this function

Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

FP6-2002-AERO-1
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

STREP - Specific Targeted Research Project

Coordinator

EUROPEAN AERONAUTIC DEFENCE AND SPACE COMPANY EADS FRANCE SAS
EU contribution
No data
Address
Boulevard de Montmorency 37
PARIS
France

See on map

Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

No data

Participants (13)

My booklet 0 0