Metitalia prototype tooling for fuselage panel

Project Information

MEPAFUS

Grant agreement ID: 785534

DOI

10.3030/785534

Project closed

EC signature date 12 February 2018

Start date 1 February 2018

End date 31 December 2019

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Smart, Green And Integrated Transport

Total cost

€ 498 765,00

EU contribution

€ 349 135,00

Coordinated by

METITALIA S.R.L.
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - MEPAFUS (Metitalia prototype tooling for fuselage panel)

Reporting period: 2019-08-01 to 2019-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The MEPAFUS project is aimed to the development, design and fabrication of an innovative tool chain to allow the fabrication of a large composite fuselage panel for a regional Aircraft.
The innovative tool chain is able to allow fabrication other panel stiffened by several omega shaped stringer in one shoot i.e. cocuring fresh stringer with fresh skin. In this way the process is based on a unique autoclave curing with saving of energy in respect to alternative process like cobonding (some elements already cured joined to other elements uncured), secondary bonding (elements already cured joined by adhesive film) fastening.
In addition the tool chain allow the automatic lamination of skin on an auxiliary tool while the cure tool is in autoclave to perform the cocure of panel. When ready the skin is downloaded on cure tool to proceed to the cure of next panel. In this way the lamination tool and cure tool are specialized for their specific use. Moreover preparation of skin and stringer using auxiliary tool allow to reduce the overall flow time of panel production.
The development of tool chain has been based on partners experience in complex tooling and on Topic Manager indications. The tool chains has been developed considering the need of coordination between lamination and cure tool. In addition tool chain include several composite elements developed to reduce effects of differential thermal expansion and mass to be heated during panel cure in the autoclave. Finally the tool has been provided with all the necessary accessory (plug, caul plate, spacers) to allow the complex bagging scheme necessary to cocure stringer on the skin.
Geometry of parts with its complexity pose several challenges in obtaining the necessary dimensional tolerances. Moreover the air tightness necessary on lamination tool and cure tool was also challenging due to the big dimensions of tools.
In the development of tool chain whenever possible it has been considered the goal of energy saving selecting the lighter material compatible with functional requirements. In addition the possibility of recycle of material at end of life of tool chain has been also considered.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Work starts with several meeting with the Topic Manager to establish tool list and lay out of major tool. After formal approval from TM in a dedicated PDR (Preliminary Design Review), the detailed design, including stress analysis, of each tool has been performed and approved by TM at dedicated CDR (Critical Design Review).
Finally each tool was fabricated and inspected providing when necessary to their coordination in Metitalia tooling facility. Dimensional and functional inspection of tool was performed and documented to TM. Finally all the tools has been delivered to TM. After some rework at TM site the tools are now available to TM to fabricate the first fuselage panel.

During the second period, it was necessary to perform a welding repair on the affected zone with the scope of:
Restore the vacuum integrity respecting the project requirements
Mitigate the critical danger of 1 mm thickness under the nr. 3 blind holes by welding an extra material thickness in those locations.
To catch up with schedule needs the welding repair has been supplied by Metitalia to a Spanish company absorbing overall costs. After the repairs with welding in the areas with low thickness of some holes, the curing tool worked well, there weren’t leakages of vacuum. Finally the Topic Manager fully accepted the curing tool that respect all dimensional and functional requirements.
Topic manger used the tool chain provide by Mepafus to produce the innovative cocured stiffened panels.Overall the tool chain worked well meeting the expectation of the project and of Topic Manager.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The cocure of big stiffened panels for application on commercial aircraft is on the leading edge of technology to make affordable the use of composite materials. As a matter of fact cocure save autoclave cycle and reduce production flow time but pose several challenges. These includes coordination of wet parts, the smoothing of gap and step to avoid mark off and fiber distortion, execution of leak free vacuum bag.
The tool chain developed by partners, according to TM indications, has tried to solve trough proper design, material selection and proper coordination most of these problems and put the base to use the same concept for production tool to be used in novel commercial aircraft in development from European aerospace company holding the competitive advantages in respect to hold and new competitors like China and Russia.

During the second period, the tools usage and the manufacturing of the final component have contributed to provide lesson learned (reported in the deliverable D4), which have and will have impact on:
• optimizing/upgrading the current products portfolio;
• improving the functional, environmental and energetic requirements about manufactured tools.

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