Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 2

Today's aircrafts are built using strong and lightweight composite materials. Current manufacturing techniquesare mostly limited to labor intensive layer-by-layer deposition of polymer pre-impregnated plies followed bypolymer cure in an expensive autoclave cure. Aerospace industry is looking to reduce the costs for fabricatingcomposite structural components. Manufacturing of load-bearing structure in the aerospace industry is achallenge that Polytechnique Montreal, Centre technologique en aérospatiale (CTA) and Center for TextileTechnologies (GCTTG) decided to address using novel technologies in partnership with BombardierAerostructure and Engineering Services (BAES). This project aims at developing a process to manufacturecomposite aircraft fuselage frames using tailored automated braiding technologies and structural infusionmolding process. This project will define the design envelope for aircraft fuselage frames, model braidedtextile 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-framemanufacturing will train highly qualified personnel at both the university and college level. It will also creategreat knowledge transfer opportunities between academia and industry. The outcomes will be highly beneficialto BAES and Canada by helping to produce cheaper, safer, lighter and greener aircrafts.