A Robust Multifunctional Sandwich Panel Design with Trabecular Structures by the Use of Additive Manufacturing Technology for a New De-Icing System

• Main Authors: Carlo Giovanni Ferro, Sara Varetti, Fabio Vitti, Paolo Maggiore, Mariangela Lombardi, Sara Biamino, Diego Manfredi, Flaviana Calignano
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2017-06-01
• Series: Technologies
• Subjects: Additive Manufacturing (AM); Selective Laser Melting (SLM); advanced structures; anti-ice systems; lattice structures; Design of Experiment
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/2227-7080/5/2/35

Anti-ice systems assure a vital on-board function in most aircraft: ice prevention or de-icing is mandatory for all aerodynamic surfaces to preserve their performance, and for all the movable surfaces to allow the proper control of the plane. In this work, a novel multi-functional panel concept which integrates anti-icing directly inside the primary structure is presented. In fact, constructing the core of the sandwich with trabecular non-stochastic cells allows the presence of a heat exchanger directly inside the structure with a savings in weight and an improvement in thermal efficiency. This solution can be realized easily in a single-piece component using Additive Manufacturing (AM) technology without the need for joints, gluing, or welding. The objective of this study is to preliminarily investigate the mechanical properties of the core constructed with Selective Laser Melting (SLM); through the Design of Experiment (DOE), different design parameters were varied to understand how they affect the compression behaviour.