LHT Finds Way To Ease Composite Aircraft Completions

Lufthansa Technik (LHT), in conjunction with the Fiber Force research project, has developed methods for load transmission into carbon fiber composite (CFC) aircraft fuselage structures.

New generations of aircraft, such as the Airbus A350 and the Boeing 787, are manufactured predominantly out of CFC. As these aircraft are equipped for private ownership, appropriate changes to the original aircraft structure are essential for manufacturer-independent modifications and individual cabin solutions. Doing so requires cabin components be installed at specific locations in an aircraft, and the primary structure must be reinforced in such a way that the additional load can be introduced and distributed safely.

According to the company, it is possible, for the first time, to define the maximum load on the floor panels and to develop connectors known as floor-panel hardpoints. Small enough to fit in the palm of the hand, these components can be fitted individually to the cabin floor by gluing them to the floor panels. They give completion centers the flexibility to anchor fittings such as cupboards, tables and partition walls anywhere in the aircraft cabin.