Application of the Digital Twin for the Development of Integral Forgings for the Aerospace Industry

The size and geometric complexity of integral forgings made of high-strength Al-alloys require a great deal of effort in the forging design and the development of the optimum production route in order to fulfil the required property profile of the finished machined component. The development of a digital twin for these forgings enables, in addition to a reduction in development times and costs, the design of forging-optimized finished parts, which can then contribute to a reduction in weight and costs.

Within the framework of a 3-year funded project under the aeronautical research program Lufo-VI, a process chain simulation is to be developed that will serve as the basis for the digital twin, i.e. the digital forging. In the presentation, the results of the local property simulation during the heat treatment of forged parts made of the aluminium alloy 7010 are presented.