Title: Out-of-autoclave Process and Automation: A Successful Path to Highly Integrated and Cost Efficient Composite Wing Moveables

Authors: Thibault de Lumley, François Mathieu, Didier Cornet, Dimitri Gueuning, and Nicolas Van Hille

DOI: 10.33599/nasampe/s.19.1409

Abstract: With the continuous growth of the aviation market, it is mandatory to have manufacturing processes that allow for cost reduction, high production rate and high performance structures enabling reduction of fuel consumption and CO2 emission. To that end, lots of out-of-autoclave technologies have been developed worldwide in the past years (RTM, VARTM, LRTM, VARI, RFI, etc) but only SQRTM (Same Qualified Resin Transfer Molding) enables to combine a good control of process key parameters (volume content, pressure, thickness, temperature) from closed mold capability and the use of high tough qualified prepregs. Starting the development of SQRTM in 2010, SONACA was the first European company to introduce SQRTM in serial production with the flaps of the Embraer E2 regional jets family. Since then, SONACA has pushed the technology further, combining it with automation, and has recently produced, first time right, a series of composite front & rear wing moveables with a very high level of structural and functional integration, achieving high cost reduction and performance. Comparing SQRTM to autoclave and RTM, the paper will demonstrate the gains achieved by SQRTM, combined with automation and integration, through the recent manufacturing of several full-scale wing moveables demonstrators, mechanical validations and economic analysis.

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Conference: SAMPE 2019 - Charlotte, NC

Publication Date: 2019/05/20

SKU: TP19--1409

Pages: 15

Price: FREE