M. Miermeister, Aleris Aluminum Koblenz GmbH, Koblenz, Germany; J. J. M. De Rijck, Corus Research Development & Technology, IJmuiden, Netherlands
Current developments in the field of aerospace applications, such as the application of composites in primary aircraft structures, are continuous drivers for new and derivative aluminum aerospace alloys. Continuous effort between Corus Aluminum Rolled Products (CARP) and Corus Research, Development & Technology (CRD&T) resulted in several improved and newly developed aluminium alloys to compete with the rising application of composites in primary aircraft structures. New aluminium alloy developments are showing better weldability, static strength, damage tolerance and corrosion properties compared to existing alloys. To investigate the applicability of these aluminum alloys developed in the cooperation between CARP and CRD&T several numerical, analytical and finite element tools have been developed. Tools focused on dealing with specific loading conditions inherent to fuselage and wing structure, both tension and compression dominated. For fuselage structures a scheme has been developed that allows extraction of both geometrical data and loading conditions from a full-scale finite element analysis. Dependent on the loading condition, tensile dominated or compression, a fatigue crack growth analysis or static strength analysis can be performed. The data extracted from the finite element model is transferred to a refined mesh that a crack growth analysis in both longitudinal and circumferential direction can be performed. Once the performance of the baseline structure is established the performance of an improved or target alloy specification can be assessed. Compression dominated fuselage structures can be analyzed for static strength, and subsequently be analyzed for fatigue crack growth performance. These structural analysis capabilities within Corus allow for a more controlled development of existing and new aluminium alloy types.
Summary: Current developments in the field of aerospace applications, such as the application of composites in primary aircraft structures, are continuous drivers for new and derivative aluminum aerospace alloys. Continuous effort between Corus Aluminum Rolled Products (CARP) and Corus Research, Development & Technology (CRD&T) resulted in several improved and newly developed aluminium alloys to compete with the rising application of composites in primary aircraft structures. New aluminium alloy developments are showing better weldability, static strength, damage tolerance and corrosion properties compared to existing alloys.
To investigate the applicability of these aluminum alloys developed in the cooperation between CARP and CRD&T several numerical, analytical and finite element tools have been developed. Tools focused on dealing with specific loading conditions inherent to fuselage and wing structure, both tension and compression dominated.
For fuselage structures a scheme has been developed that allows extraction of both geometrical data and loading conditions from a full-scale finite element analysis. Dependent on the loading condition, tensile dominated or compression, a fatigue crack growth analysis or static strength analysis can be performed. The data extracted from the finite element model is transferred to a refined mesh that a crack growth analysis in both longitudinal and circumferential direction can be performed. Once the performance of the baseline structure is established the performance of an improved or target alloy specification can be assessed. Compression dominated fuselage structures can be analyzed for static strength, and subsequently be analyzed for fatigue crack growth performance.
These structural analysis capabilities within Corus allow for a more controlled development of existing and new aluminium alloy types.
