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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/L39971/01
Title: IMI: A NOVEL APPROACH TO THE DESIGN OF AEROSPACE STRUCTURES (FLYTOOL)
Principal Investigator: Corbett, Professor J
Other Investigators:
Burley, Mr G
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
BAE Systems
Department: Sch of Industrial and Manufacturing Scie
Organisation: Cranfield University
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 April 1997 Ends: 30 June 2000 Value (£): 40,187
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Aerospace, Defence and Marine
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
The present method of building large aerospace structures on dedicated assembly rigs is now recognized a being commercially uncooperative and technologically incompatible with the need to attain higher standards of manufacturing quality.An alternative approach is to design aerospace structures for assembly using the minimum number of external holding and reference fixtures. This can be achieved by incorporating reference and jigging features into the geometries of the component parts. Within the aerospace industry this technology is known as Flyaway Tooling.The purpose of this research project is to provide an understanding of the fundamental scientific, technical and economic issues arising from the assembly of large aerospace structures using 'Flyaway Tooling'. The programme of work involves investigating the underlying science and proposing new methods to achieve the technology and its embodiment. The efficacy of the proposals is to be evaluated thorough a Case Study re-design of an existing aerospace structure. This Cranfiled based research programme will be concurrent with a related research programme at the University of Salford. The Cranfield student and the Salfrod student are to work closely together, and both will spend a considerable amount of time in appropriate aerospace environments.
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Organisation Website: http://www.cranfield.ac.uk