CO2 Footprint minimization for AFP bio-composites thin structures
Résumé
The development of the aeronautical industry has brought about certain demands like the reduction of fuel consumption and, consequently, the weight of used structures. Therefore, topology analysis of aircraft components has played an important role in meeting these demands. Another factor widely studied in this context is the type of materials used in the manufacture of such components, hence, by presenting lower densities, composites have gained ground in this industry sector.
Besides, an increasingly sought-after characteristic is the sustainability associated with the entire life cycle of any system or part, from its design, through the production phase, to its end of life. The assessment of such sustainability is often carried out by analysing the life cycle’s CO2 footprint, which tends to decrease when the raw materials used are less processed. Materials of natural origin, also known as "bio-materials", have therefore been the target of study, being the basis of the concept of eco-design.
The accelerated development of 3D printing technologies has allowed the evolution of structural design methods. Additive manufacturing emerged in the 1980s and has since been expanding in the aerospace field. One of its great advantages is that it can be combined with the use of bio-composites, such as flax or hemp.
The topology optimisation of any given structure brings great benefits in terms of the mitigation of the CO2 impact of a given part, as it translates into a reduction of its mass and fuel consumption. However, the combination of this method with the optimisation of the fibre path, in the 3D printing process, and the CO2 footprint of the part’s life cycle simultaneously can bring even more evident benefits.
In this paper modifications to existing methods are proposed. In MATLAB, strategies are developed to study the topology and fibre orientation of potentially 3D printed thin structures.
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