Thermoplastic composites boast outstanding characteristics such as repairability and recyclability, making them increasingly valuable in the aviation industry. Comprising a polymer matrix with embedded inclusions normally of carbon fiber, their properties can be designed as they are dependent on the material typology and configurations used as well as the manufacturing process.
DELTA project will carry out extensive stress analysis tests on composite fuselage parts produced by out-of-autoclave technology. This curing process is gaining widespread acceptance in the aerospace industry because it produces high-quality parts at a much lower cost, time and resources consumption compared to the traditional autoclave technology.
Development and execution of innovative experimental testing procedures, will enable obtaining test results at structural detail and sub-component levels, which will help validate out-of-autoclave technology for the future production of fuselage parts using optimal material.
DELTA will impact positively European Union aeronautic sector competitiveness through the demonstration of thermoplastic curved fuselage panels using advanced test system. This will enable to reduce the costs associated to the certification of curved fuselage panels, since it will decrease the number of tests necessary and hence, reduce the number of specimens to be manufactured. Moreover, optimization of safety factors by performing combined load validation will contribute to a more optimized material usage and lower aircraft weight. All of this will contribute to a reduction of CO2 emissions. The outcomes of this project will enable the validation of this concept design and out-of-autoclave manufacturing process proposed for a composite material with thermoplastic polymer matrix.
