FEA-SMC: Enabling short fibre composites in high-performance aerospace applications through robust simulation technology

Creative Composites, Engenuity Ltd, WMG and Simutence will be working together with Spirit Aerosystems to develop a new software solution to predict the structural performance of SMC composite materials and enable their use in aerospace applications. SMC is a discontinuous fibre, moulded composite commonly used for performance automotive applications. Its carbon fibre reinforced variants (known as C-SMC) can have higher specific strength and stiffness than aluminium, with lower material cost and cycle time than continuous CFRP.

The consortium will develop a software tool that can accurately predict the variable behaviour of these materials taking into account the effect of flow during moulding. Bridging a gap in predictive analysis and opening up the aerospace industry to more applications of this low-cost, light weighting technology. The project will include the design optimisation and manufacture of a structural aircraft component to validate this new software tool, and demonstrate how it can enable C-SMC to compete with conventional aerospace materials.