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Development of short distance welding concepts for airframes

WELAIR

Project timeline
Start:
January 2004
Duration:
42 months
End:
June 2007
General Information
The WEL-AIR framework constitutes a research and technological development project designed to generate new fundamental knowledge to develop new manufacturing approaches by using short distance joining technology for primary structural components (such as skin-frame, skin-cleat, cleat-striner etc.) of the metallic aircraft fuselage. For this purpose, optimum process-property and performance relationships need to be established by satisfying the fatigue and damage tolerance requirements. The research methodology used in this project will follow "develop - test - verify - make recommendations" steps to establish new short distance welding concepts for cost-effective manufacturing of the airframes using Laser Beam Welding and Friction Steer Welding processes. The "testing - verification" steps will be covered by conducting extensive damage tolerance analysis in terms of fatigue, fracture toughness, corrosion, as well as non-destructive testing using various joint configurations and alloy combinations.
EU-Programme Acronym and Subprogramme AreaFP6-2002-Aero-1, 1.3.1.1 Strengthening Competitiveness
Project TypeSTREP
Contract NumberAST3-CT-2003-502832
Co-ordinatorGIE EADS CCR (FR)
Total Eligible Costs (€) Hereon Eligible Costs (€) EC Funding for Hereon (€)
5.035.405494.527253.322
Contact Person at Hereon Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Norbert Huber, Institute of Materials Research, phone: +49-4152-87 2500 (initial contact: Dr. Mustafa Kocak, Institute of Materials Research)
E-mail contact
Worldwide Europe

Participants
Airbus Deutschland GmbH (DE), Airbus France SAS (FR), Alenia Aeronautica SPA (IT), Dassault Aviation S.A. (FR), Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt DLR (DE), EADS Deutschland GmbH (DE), GIE EADS CCR (FR), Institut de Soudure (FR), ISTRAM, Institute of Structures and Advanced Materials, Patras (GR), Office National d'Etudes et de Recherches Aerospatials (FR), Pechiney Centre de Recherche de Voreppe (FR), Piaggio Aero Industries S.P.A. (IT), Societe Anonyme Belge de Constructions Aeronautiques (BE)

(completed June 2007)

Last Update: 16. April 2021