3D Fibre-Reinforced Composites for Future Multifunctional Guide Vanes (3DFuture)

Research Project, 2023 – 2024

Purpose and goal
This project addresses the need for developing light weight and multifunctional materials for use in load carrying aerospace structures. This is particularly beneficial in reducing overall weight of an engine, thus leading to improved fuel efficiency. In this project, this challenge is addressed by introducing the use of novel carbon fiber 3D-reinforcements that are interwoven with metallic filaments to heat a component (outlet guide vane) for the purpose of deicing. Furthermore, the use of 3D woven preforms has the added benefit of reducing material waste as they are near net shape.

Expected results and effects
The project is expected develop knowledge in the use of multifunctional 3D woven reinforcements to be potentially used in aerospace structures and their production. Besides this, the project is expected to investigate the thermal and mechanical properties of these novel materials through testing. Finally, a material model to predict the mechanical behavior of this novel material under various loading conditions will be developed and implemented in a finite-element software.