SHOREliner - Development of a climate-neutral fiber composite aircraft with robust aerodynamic and STOL characteristics for use as a multi-purpose commuter aircraft

Achieving environmentally friendly aviation requires not only emission-free propulsion, as demonstrated in the SHOREliner, but also CO2-neutral and resource-saving production. In practice, especially in the context of SMEs, the integration of manufacturing aspects often occurs only in late phases of the development process. The consequences are costly and time-intensive iteration loops, inefficient manufacturing processes, and increased structural weight. There is a lack of methods that allow for an early, holistic evaluation of process chains regarding manufacturability, economic efficiency, and energy and resource consumption.

Objectives

The overall goal of the IFW sub-project is to enable the CO2-neutral serial production of the SHOREliner under the specific economic constraints of SMEs. The main technological objective is to develop a multidisciplinary method for evaluating and optimizing process chain alternatives. To achieve this, a dynamic process chain model is being developed to calculate energy and resource consumption. In parallel, an automatic, AI-supported manufacturability analysis is being developed for the early integration of manufacturing restrictions into the design process.

Potential benefits for practice:

• Reduction of energy and resource consumption in the process chain
• Shortening of development time and costs through early manufacturing assessment
• Holistic design of CO2-neutral and cost-effective manufacturing processes

Benefits

• Reduction of development time and costs
• Lowering energy/resource consumption
• Design of CO2-neutral process chains
• Ensuring manufacturability with an SME focus

Approach

The IFW’s approach includes identifying SME-suitable manufacturing technologies with high automation potential. The main focus is on Automated Fiber Placement, a robot-assisted lay-up technology for carbon fiber tapes. In experimental manufacturability analyses, the IFW investigates the implementation of unconventionally stiffened fuselage structures developed jointly with the Institute of Aircraft Design and Lightweight Structures at TU Braunschweig. For these and other technologies, digital process twins are developed and linked into a dynamic process chain model.

Are you also interested in a cooperation project?

Contact Tim Tiemann via email at tiemann@ifw.uni.hannover.de.