Overview
The project was about ensuring cost efficiency in air transport. The focus was on reduction of aircraft acquisition costs. Innovative solutions and technologies combined with a competitive supply chain, were to result in: (i) lower lead time and (ii) reduced costs of the aircraft from design to production.
The objectives of the GLFEM project were the development of:
- Advanced methods and computational tools in the fields of structural analysis;
- Concepts and methodologies for efficient multi-site product development in support of the extended enterprise.
The project contributed to the mentioned costs/lead times reduction and a more competitive supply chain, by enabling companies to seamlessly couple their analysis capabilities.
This coupling was done by analysis model interfacing and by providing a definable combination of accuracy, ease of use and intellectual property protection.
The project delivered advanced methods and computational tools for structural analysis. More specifically, the deliverables enabled the coupling of finite element based structural analysis models of different origin and modelling fidelity, with no interaction during initial model creation. The coupling was generic (linear, non-linear, static, dynamic, shell-to-shell, solid-to-shell) and automatic. It was applied to 4 different industrial use cases.
Several approaches were pursued in competition, making use of a common finite element research package. The best of the class for a given application type was implemented in a commercial grade finite element code. Models could then be created independently by different partners at different locations, concurrently, with a minimum of communication needed. This resulted in an efficient multi site product development methodology in support of the extended enterprise.
Funding
Results
Being an upstream research project, the GLFEM project has delivered a number of (structural finite element based) model coupling capabilities to the European Industry and European scientific community. Three project milestones were identified at month 28, 30 and 40.
At M28 a State-of-the-Art theoretical overview and evaluation of coupling methods was delivered. This resulted in the technical part of a complementary industrial proposal in 2011.
At M30 a Report on practical implementation of coupling methods was delivered.
At M40 the Final overview of the GLFEM project theory, implementation and application was delivered in the form of a manuscript for a public book.
Furthermore, the following sections are a selection of results of the used cases achieved within the GLFEM project:
- Non linear delamination in composite panels;
- Buckling of composite panels with local degradation;
- Panel design in fuselage design.
Innovation aspects
A number of different innovative coupling approaches have been developed, demonstrated and, subsequently, validated on a number of relevant industrial Use Cases (UC). These coupling approaches extended the State-of-the-Art Finite Element (FE) methods that are commonly used in industry today. These methods had the following features in common:
- They were based on the Finite Element method;
- They were applied to deformation, stress and stability analysis of slender structures;
- They are able to model specific regions in detail, but without performing re-meshing or mesh refinement. In other words, the FE model was comprised of several meshes that are not compatible with one another.
Technical Implications
Seamless and automatic model interfacing will enable companies to collaborate productively for better aircraft designs in less time and at lower costs. GLFEM results are expected to have a major impact on the competitiveness of the EU aerospace industry. Additionally, this will pave the way for incorporating other automatic coupling procedures-of-benefit to numerous manufacturing sectors.
Strategy targets
2. Innovative for the future: technology and behaviour.
2.1. A European Transport Research and Innovation Policy.
Readiness
The GLFEM results have reached a maturity level that does not permit a direct, immediate or short-term commercial exploitation. For further development, demonstration and industrialisation, a complementary and more industry focused project is needed in the different areas covered by the project, in order to operationally deploy and commercially exploit the capabilities and solutions validated in GLFEM.