Wing Hybrid Enablers for Product Development (HyEnD)

The ATI funded ‘Wing Design, Manufacture & Assembly’ project which ended in March 2017, delivered technology solutions for a high-rate / high production volume CFRP wing for a single-aisle aircraft, covering the domains of; concept, design, CFRP component manufacture, wing assembly and industrial system concept to TRL4. In order to achieve the exploitation date required by Airbus product strategy, these technologies need to be integrated into an overall wing configuration at TRL 6 before the end of 2021.

This proposal relates to a project which will build upon the ‘Wing Design, Manufacture & Assembly’ project, and which will develop and deliver major components into the demonstrators. The scope is a combination of technology development, large scale manufacturing capability preparation, and large scale component manufacturing (integrated top-cover / front spar), in a representative industrial environment. This level of validation is essential in order to mitigate the key risks involved when ramping-up actual production at high-rate of innovative major integrated CFRP components.

‘Wing of the Tomorrow” is based around an innovative CFRP wing concept optimised for high aerodynamic and structural performance. Low recurring-cost will be secured via integrated CFRP components and lean industrial system (out-of-autoclave, modular assembly / equipping).
The wing-box will be an integrated component (resulting in significant reduction in drilling and fastening operations) made from formed dry-fibre material infused and cured out-of-autoclave.
Full-scale trials are essential to ensure that the concepts are fully de-risked and robust enough to launch into rapid industrial ramp-up and high-rate production.

For GKN, this project aims to develop a manufacturing method for a high rate, single section composite spar design in support of full size Wing-box integration and testing. Technology development is focusing on developing and demonstrating an Out of Autoclave (OoA) infusion process to achieve a TRL5 maturity manufacturing process by 2020.