A route to sustainable aviation: a roadmap for the realization of aircraft components with electrical and structural multifunctionality.

Catherine Jones*, Patrick Norman, Graeme Burt, Callum A P Hill, Giuliano Allegri, Jason M Yon, Ian Hamerton, Richard S Trask

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

31 Citations (Scopus)
153 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Increased electrification of aircraft power systems has been widely presented as a route toward meeting environmental and emissions targets for aircraft performance, via more-electric aircraft and future hybrid-electric aircraft concepts. In parallel, the superior mechanical performance of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) has resulted in its increasing use for aircraft structures. The relatively low electrical conductivity of CFRP compared to traditional aluminum structures and copper conductors limits the use of structural CFRP structures as electrical elements, so separate systems are needed. This adds structural mass and volume to a system, negating some of the benefits of using CFRP. Closer integration of the composite structure and electrical power system (EPS), with an ultimate goal of achieving components with multifunctionality (combined thermal, electrical, and structural functionality), offers a route toward the light-weighting of these systems, thus supporting improvements in aircraft performance. This article presents a roadmap to achieve this multifunctionality, supported by the combination of introducing definitions for different levels of multifunctionality, associated design thresholds, and trades between the EPS and CFRP materials/structures. Existing multifunctional (MF) electrical–thermal–structural CFRP-based solutions are contextualized within this roadmap. This enables the realization of viable routes for developing MF systems for the strategic focus of future research efforts.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3032-3049
Number of pages18
JournalIEEE Transactions on Transportation Electrification
Volume7
Issue number4
Early online date6 May 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was supported in part by the Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre for Electrical Power Systems at the University of Strathclyde, in part by the Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre for Composites at the University of Bristol, and in part by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council through the ACCIS Centre for Doctoral Training Grant under Grant EP/G036772/1.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 IEEE.

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