Combineded Prepreg and Infusion Technology - Cost efficient CFRP primary airframe structures

Kurzfassung

This paper presents a new production method for cost efficient carbon fibre reinforced airframe structures (CFRP). Highest structural performance will often not be achieved along with low manufacturing costs producing a CFRP assembly in a single manufacturing system (pure Prepreg or pure Liquid Resin Infusion LRI). In large assemblies such as stiffened panels, geometric simple but heavy loaded components may be preferably layed up by automated prepreg tape laying systems. More complex components such as stringers or frames can be cost efficiently manufactured in LRI processes. Regarding similar infusion cycles and/or cure cycles of prepreg and LRI processes the next step for reducing production costs is to use an integral process for integral structures, the so called Combined Prepreg and Infusion (CPI) Technology. This technology comprises both, maximum structural performance and low manufacturing cost for large integral airframe structures. For a fundamental assessment of this new procedure numerous experimental investigations were carried out regarding the mechanical properties and the practicability in industrial manufacturing processes.