"Intelligent airframes" and 40 years of composite expertise
One of Airbus’ many pioneering achievements during the past 40 years has been the growing use of composite materials, which began with its cornerstone A310 jetliner and continues today with the A350 XWB.
The application of composites started with carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) components – initially involving secondary parts such as fairings, and subsequently progressing to the A310’s vertical fin, which reduced total aircraft weight by more than 250 kg.
A close cooperation with Airbus’ own design bureau, technical teams and suppliers resulted in the CFRP vertical fin’s production breakthrough, and its subsequent certification by the world’s airworthiness authorities.
Since then, Airbus has continued to increase the percentage of composites in the overall structural weight of its aircraft, moving to larger and more complex structures when the material is warranted. Examples include such key CFRP airframe elements as the A340-600’s keel beam and the very large centre wing box of the 21st century A380 flagship.
For the A380, composites represent about a quarter of the structural weight – and they will account for more than 50 per cent on the next-generation A350 WXB.
As part of its Intelligent Airframe concept, Airbus is deciding on the future use of materials – including metallics, fibre composites and laminates – based on factors that range from their weight-saving potential, manufacturing costs, maintenance requirements, and even their disposal at the end of an aircraft’s useful lifetime.
