CRP Technology collaborated with Department of Aerospace Science and Technology of the Politecnico di Milano (PoliMi) on construction of parts for the aeroelastic wind tunnel demonstrators for the Aeroelastic Flutter Suppression (AFS) and ‘GLAMOUR’ projects. CRP manufactured external aerodynamic segments of the two wind tunnel demonstrators for both projects.

The AFS project was launched by PoliMi and the University of Washington to test different active control system technologies aiming to attain active flutter suppression.

CRP Technology used professional 3D printing (selective laser sintering technology) and carbon-composite Windform XT 2.0 from its range of composite materials for LS, the Windform Top-Line.

Windform XT 2.0, which replaced the previous formula of Windform XT, was also used by CRP Technology to create the horizontal tail of the wind tunnel demonstrator for the AFS project, said CRP in a press release.

Windform XT 2.0 features improvements in mechanical properties including +8 per cent increase in tensile strength, +22 per cent in tensile modulus, and a +46 per cent increase in elongation at break. These mechanical properties guarantee the achievement of required characteristics, ie stiffness, lightness as well as very smooth external surface for a wind tunnel demonstrator.

Prior to professional 3D printing, the aerodynamic sections of the wings were produced by carbon or glass fibre fabrics dry lamination, which were wrapped styrofoam blocks suitably cut to match the wing’s shape. This manufacturing process required much longer times and yielded lower quality surface finish.

Professional 3D printing revolutionised the entire process of construction and verification of the parts allowing faster production speed and possibility of optimising the internal shape of the aerodynamic sections making them as lightweight and stiff as possible.

Through Selective Laser Sintering provided by CRP Technology, the PoliMi team was able to transfer resources from the construction phase to the design phase, obtaining better optimised components.

The 2^nd project – GLAMOUR – was focused on technological optimisation and experimental validation of Gust Load Alleviation (GLA) control systems for an advanced Green Regional Aircraft manufactured by Leonardo Aircraft Division. For GLAMOUR, Windform XT 2.0 allowed the combination of the vibration frequency targets together with the forced mass constrains. (PC)