Design and Manufacturing of Composite Structures for Air and Space Applications

This course provides practical design considerations for composite structures used in aircraft and space applications. Instruction covers building block approach for qualifying new composite designs, and the role of advanced manufacturing, development, and rapid prototyping in supporting design, including recent NGC case studies. The course also focuses on composite processing development programs, process improvements, and the role of development in new and on-going programs. The role of development in helping advance technological capability and in validating the designs in early phases of a program is highlighted. Examples from Northrop Grumman developments in composite airframe, such as the Disruptive Manufacturing RAPID program and NASA developments for Composite Cryotanks and Composite Crew Modules, are included. Some of the technologies include out-of-autoclave processing, bonded assembly, automated composite processing, self-locating features, prototype tooling, fabrication and assembly vs. production approaches, and the bene?ts that can be achieved through their application.