Aerospatiale's Saint-Martin-du-Touch design bureau expects to complete a research programme by the end of this year into next-generation composite design for commercial aircraft.
The French company claims to be leading the world with its composite-wingbox development, while it concedes that the USA's Boeing is leading in developing composite fuselages.
Started in 1991, the research is based on materials formed by resin-transfer moulding. They could form structures able to withstand up to three times the loading for the same weight as can current wing box designs such as that of the Aero International (Regional) (AI(R)) ATR 42, according to Revue Aerospatiale, the company's in-house magazine.
Weight savings on the wingbox of the new AI(R) AirJet 70 could save 900kg - equivalent to another ten passengers, says the company.
Further into the future, thermoplastics (which, like aluminium, can be hot-formed) could allow for composite skin designs, for example, further reducing weight. It is likely to be some time, however, before such applications can be certificated.
The majority of plastics now used are of the thermosetting kind, which are far better understood.
Source: Flight International
