Design, Analysis and Optimization of an Aircraft Seat

The certification of aircraft seats is a very costly process, and such the design of these seats is a detailed and time-consuming task. All new aircraft seat designs must go through rigorous physical testing to be certified as airworthy as per the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs). Because of this, many seats are overdesigned to avoid failing certification tests. This is detrimental to the lightweight design of components, which is increasingly important in the aerospace industry. The reduction in aircraft weight leads to reduced operational costs, reduced emissions and increased aircraft range. The objective of the proposed research project is produce new aircraft seat designs with reduced weight and manufacturing cost, while remaining safe for passengers. Novel design methodologies will be used to produce lighter and cheaper aircraft seats, and advanced computer simulation will be used to model the crash certification requirements to ensure safety.

Faculty Supervisor:

Il Yong Kim

Student:

Neil Trivers

Partner:

Bombardier Aerospace

Discipline:

Engineering - mechanical

Sector:

Aerospace and defense

University:

Program: