ELSTec : Efficient lightweight structures made by automated fiber placement (AFP) of thermoplastic composites

Led by Prof. Steve Tsai from Stanford University, Palo Alto, USA, new methods to efficiently design, analyze, optimize and manufacture high-performance light weight panels made of carbon fiber reinforced composites and thermoset resins have been developed by an international consortium. The ideas already available give indication to massively reduce cost, maximize light weight efficiency and increase the strength and stiffness of traditional (legacy) design of fiber reinforced composites. Ideas were presented in an overview at a conference organized by Concordia University in 2019 which has led to the idea to transfer this also to more environmentally-friendly materials made by automated manufacturing technique (i.e., thermoplastic composites made by automated fiber placement).

The planned project deals with the transfer of these ideas to sustainable materials, especially thermoplastic resins at a first step. Later, natural fibers might be added. Especially the simplified procurement of material data but also automated manufacturing of skin-grid structures should be investigated within the proposed project. There is a strong indication that environmentally-friendly high performance low cost lightweight structures can be obtained to be used by many industries, e.g. aerospace, railway, automotive, shipbuilding, wind turbines, investment goods and more.

Faculty Supervisor:

Farjad Shadmehri

Student:

Partner:

Munich University of Applied Sciences

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Advanced Manufacturing; Aerospace; Automotive

University:

Concordia University

Program: