FEATURE AEROSPACE INDUSTRY
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE OF THE AEROSPACE INDUSTRY
As we start looking beyond the pandemic, it will be necessary to fill the void left by
retired aircraft with those manufactured using new innovative and sustainable materials, as British Aluminium Matrix Composite (AMC) manufacturer, Alvant, explains
C
omposites have been favoured by the aerospace manufacturing industry in recent
years thanks to their lightweight properties which help to increase fuel efficiency as well as lower cost. They may not, however, be the more environmentally sustainable option as initially thought. One crucial factor has been overlooked – they are not recyclable. With end of life now very much a consideration in design development, there is more emphasis on the entire product lifecycle across the industry, which is paving the way for alternative materials. When considering measures such as the
environmental impact, AMCs (Aluminium Matrix Composites) are proving to be a more viable and higher performing option – and they can be recycled. They also increase stiffness by up to four times compared to some grades of aluminium.
OPPORTUNITIES As a result of COVID-19 and the resulting downturn, BA, Virgin Atlantic and Qantas have all scrapped their Boeing 747 fleets earlier than scheduled. This therefore throws open the opportunity for innovation to play a key role once the industry starts to slowly re-build. AMCs can help fulfil this need, says Richard
Thompson, commercial director of Alvant. “As we start to look beyond the pandemic and ways of kick-starting the economy and travel industry in the coming months and years, we must fill the void left by retired fleet with aircraft that are manufactured using new innovative and sustainable materials. “This step change in aviation is already happening as we speak – for instance,
36 OCTOBER 2020 | DESIGN SOLUTIONS
Alvant is already in the throes of testing and developing lighter and more sustainable landing gear components and is currently investigating the use of it in wing features and structures. The future possibilities are extremely diverse, and we are starting to see demand increase as the industry responds to the need to lower costs, reduce weight and cut carbon emissions through less fuel burn, without compromising on structural integrity.”
engine wear and tear. This can lead to reduced operating costs through improved fuel efficiency and reduced MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul), while offering a more sustainable solution. Add to that list optimised performance, more
“If the set target of net-zero carbon
emissions by 2050 is to be
reached, it’s becoming more and more evident that this will only happen through investing in sustainable materials for more fuel-efficient aircraft”
COMPONENT DESIGN Propeller systems are also just one of many components on an aircraft that will significantly benefit from the strength, stiffness and lightweight properties afforded by AMC materials. With the potential to weigh significantly
less than some current drivetrain related components, it can not only help increase the aircraft’s useful load, but can also help lessen
reliability, and low lifecycle costs, and it will be no surprise when more and more aircraft manufacturers and design engineers eye the growing appeal of AMCs beyond just multi- propeller solutions. They are already being considered for applications in high-pressure seals and seats, where safety and reliability are essential. In fact their longitudinal strength is superior to that of steel at one- third of the weight, which is the dream for engineers searching for weight saving gains. Their potential is also extended to the
defence field. Alvant is investigating the possibility of creating counter measure dispensers in AMC instead of traditionally heavier and less temperature resistant metals that are currently used. These are typically metallic to cope with temperature extremes, so the flare or chaff holders can add significant weight to jets and helicopters. Their heat resistant and light-weight qualities mean the total weight of the flare dispensers can be halved, meaning either a total weight saving or an increase in payload allowance elsewhere. If the set target of net-zero carbon emissions
by 2050 is to be reached, it’s becoming more and more evident that this will only happen through investing in sustainable materials for new, more fuel-efficient, aircraft.
Alvant
www.alvant.com
/ DESIGNSOLUTIONS
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