Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants

As modern airplane designs become increasingly powerful and efficient, aerospace companies are turning to advanced manufacturing methods and materials for strong, lightweight, and cost-effective solutions. The three main tasks that will be completed during the two-year project are: (1) additive manufacturing optimization and part consolidation methodology for component level design, (2) multi-material composite optimization for component level design, and (3) combined additive manufacturing and composite optimization for system level design. These tasks seek to address the major challenges associated with integrating additive manufacturing and fibre-reinforced composites into aerospace components by developing advanced computational tools and customized numerical models based on fundamental theories. All three tasks involve the redesign of a component or system to solve a real-world industry challenge. Through the partnership between researchers at Queen's University (Kingston, Ontario) and industry experts at Bombardier Aerospace (Toronto, Ontario), the project will focus on theoretical advancements and their practical application to optimization modules. The partnership will feature a two-year project with three full-time graduate students and several on-site internships at Bombardier Aerospace's Toronto offices, providing students with a valuable opportunity for mentorship by both industry experts and a leading professor.