Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 2

Today's aircrafts are built using strong and lightweight composite materials. Current manufacturing techniques*are mostly limited to labor intensive layer-by-layer deposition of polymer pre-impregnated plies followed by*polymer cure in an expensive autoclave cure. Aerospace industry is looking to reduce the costs for fabricating*composite structural components. Manufacturing of load-bearing structure in the aerospace industry is a*challenge that Polytechnique Montreal, Centre technologique en aérospatiale (CTA) and Center for Textile*Technologies (GCTTG) decided to address using novel technologies in partnership with Bombardier*Aerostructure and Engineering Services (BAES). This project aims at developing a process to manufacture*composite aircraft fuselage frames using tailored automated braiding technologies and structural infusion*molding process. This project will define the design envelope for aircraft fuselage frames, model braided*textile architectures, develop the braiding technology, develop the out-of-autoclave infusion technology,*produce braided C-frame demonstrators and evaluate the costs. The project proposal on braided C-frame*manufacturing will train highly qualified personnel at both the university and college level. It will also create*great knowledge transfer opportunities between academia and industry. The outcomes will be highly beneficial*to BAES and Canada by helping to produce cheaper, safer, lighter and greener aircrafts.