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TRIMIS

Composite Stiffened Panels Infusion

PROJECTS
Funding
European
European Union
Duration
-
Status
Complete with results
Geo-spatial type
Other
Total project cost
€199 560
EU Contribution
€149 670
Project Acronym
CoSPI
STRIA Roadmaps
Vehicle design and manufacturing (VDM)
Transport mode
Airborne icon
Transport policies
Societal/Economic issues,
Environmental/Emissions aspects
Transport sectors
Passenger transport,
Freight transport

Overview

Call for proposal
SP1-JTI-CS-2010-05
Link to CORDIS
Objectives

The CoSPI project aimed at developing and manufacturing a flat stiffened skin composite panel using the 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 proposed to study three different processes: cold infusion, Liquid Resin Infusion and Resin Film infusion. The major development efforts were on the impact behaviour. This behaviour was a critical issue for parts obtained by infusion and has to be acceptable for primary structure parts. Several parameters were 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 was carried out in order to choose the best infusion process in terms of mechanical behaviour, costs and environmental impact.

The environmental impact was at the heart of the CoSPI project. Minimising waste, energy consumption and the use of noxious products was one of the main objectives of this project. To achieve the objectives, the CoSPI experimented with some innovative ideas, such as the use of resins usually dedicated to pre-pregs in LRI and RFI techniques. Some new weaving method was also investigated. Thus, multiaxial warp knit fabrics were tested, again for improving the impact resistance of the panels.

Three partners were 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 had 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 equipment for coupon manufacturing.

Expected impacts involve both dissemination and training material for the academic partners and exploitation of new infusion techniques for the SMEs.

Funding

Parent Programmes
Institution Type
Public institution
Institution Name
European Commission
Type of funding
Public (EU)
Specific funding programme
JTI-CS - Joint Technology Initiatives - Clean Sky
Other Programme
JTI-CS-2010-5-ECO-01-014 Infusion system development for primary structure

Results

Executive Summary:

The trade-off study led to the conclusion that out-of-autoclave Liquid Resin Infusion process with powdered preforms was the best compromise to optimise the triptych process-composite preform-resin. This process had compared to well-known prepregs resins cured in autoclave. The mechanical results on static and impact tests had shown that out-of-autoclave LRI process can meet the standards required for primary structure parts. Thus, final demonstrators were manufactured using this process and the selected resin (PRISM EP2400 by Cytec). Those demonstrators were blade and J stiffened panels representing a fuselage section. Their dimensions were 1200x750mm with 5 stiffeners.

Partners

Lead Organisation
Organisation
Universite De Bretagne Occidentale
Address
RUE DES ARCHIVES 3, 29238 BREST, France
Organisation website
EU Contribution
€82 755
Partner Organisations
Organisation
Convergence Composite
Address
ROUTE DU PLANOZ 27d, 1348 LE BRASSUS, Switzerland
EU Contribution
€41 490
Organisation
Florian Madec Composites Sarl
Address
RUE FERDINAND DE LESSEPS 12, 29200 BREST, France
Organisation website
EU Contribution
€25 425

Technologies

Technology Theme
Manufacturing processes
Technology
Out of Autoclave Liquid Resin Infusion (OOA LRI)
Development phase
Demonstration/prototyping/Pilot Production

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