RESEARCH NEWS
Spacecraft R & D project lifts off
A team from the University of Strathclyde ’ s Advanced Forming Research Centre ( AFRC ) in the UK has collaborated with The Welding Institute ( TWI ) Ltd . and Airbus Defence and Space to explore alternative methods of manufacture for titanium and aluminium propellant tanks . These methods could save materials and cost for users .
“ Spacecraft and satellite propellant tanks are pressure vessels that store liquid fuels . Airbus Defence and Space currently manufacture the product through forging and machining titanium , resulting in material waste and high production costs . It is interested in determining if aluminium could offer similar performance to titanium at a lower cost ,” commented the AFRC .
Funded by the European Space Agency ( ESA ) through ESA ’ s General Support Technology Programme ( GSTP ), the project focused on identifying a manufacturing route for an aluminium propellant tank created using three different alloy grades ; AA6082 , AA2219 and AA5028 . Through a series of research trials , the team successfully produced formed parts , systematically identifying the approach and methodology needed to spin form various aluminium alloys successfully .
“ Following completion of the project , a new 60L aluminium tank has successfully passed its TRL06 design review , while other spin-formed domes have been successfully introduced on the new Airbus JUICE
Spin-formed parts for propellant tanks .
spacecraft . Airbus expects to see cost savings in the region of 30 %,” explained the AFRC .
The AFRC ’ s Forging and Incremental Technologies team was responsible for selecting methods of manufacture and carrying out research trials to understand whether each alloy could be successfully produced using cold spin forming . n
Advanced manufacturing funds for critical / emerging technology
The U . S . Department of Commerce ’ s National Institute of Standards and Technology ( NIST ) has awarded a total of US $ 2.08 million to seven organisations in six states to develop manufacturing technology roadmaps to strengthen U . S . innovation and productivity across entire industry sectors . This is the second round of grants awarded to universities , industry and non-profit organisations through NIST ’ s Advanced Manufacturing Technology Roadmap Programme ( MfgTech ).
Each award of up to US $ 300,000 will fund projects for up to 18 months to address national priorities such as manufacturing of critical infrastructure , communication and transformative approaches and technologies in construction . NIST plans to make additional awards under different categories .
“ This new round of awards enables strategic partnerships across the country that will identify and document ways to accelerate the adoption of critical manufacturing technologies in the U . S .,” said Mike Molnar , director of the NIST Office of Advanced Manufacturing .
Each consortium will engage stakeholders to identify and prioritise research projects that reduce barriers to the growth of advanced manufacturing in the U . S . The resulting roadmaps will identify and rank research and development goals ; address workforce skills gaps ; promote diversity , equity and inclusion in manufacturing ; and identify steps to speed technology development / transfer to improve manufacturing competitiveness .
The lead recipients and their projects are :
1 . Edison Welding Institute Inc . ( Columbus , Ohio ) — US $ 300,000 . This project will develop a U . S . roadmap to accelerate fabrication of large structures such as bridges , wind towers , pipelines and ships . It will focus on increasing flexibility and energy efficiency , and lowering costs by deploying advanced materials , large-scale additive manufacturing and other technologies .
2 . University of Houston ( Houston , Texas ) — US $ 300,000 . This roadmap will identify manufacturing challenges and technology barriers associated with various platform technologies , such as superconductors and advanced structural materials , to accelerate the commercialisation of future carbonneutral electric machines and systems .
3 . ASTM International ( West Conshohocken , Pennsylvania ) — US $ 299,989 . The award will be used to develop a roadmap to guide the construction manufacturing sector in adopting advanced technologies such as additive manufacturing , robotics , automation and artificial intelligence for improved productivity , efficiency , flexibility and safety .
4 . Case Western Reserve University ( Cleveland , Ohio ) — US $ 299,745 . A technology roadmap will be developed to integrate artificial intelligence and machine learning tools with traditional material science and manufacturing process knowledge , over the full product lifecycle , for a comprehensive approach to the future manufacturing of advanced materials .
5 . SRI International ( Menlo Park , California ) — US $ 299,128 . The funding will support a Quantum Technology Manufacturing Roadmap that identifies pre-competitive development and supply chain gaps .
6 . University of New Hampshire ( Durham , New Hampshire ) — US $ 297,877 . This roadmap will explore a new paradigm in manufacturing for the equitable commercialisation , industrialisation and democratisation of manufacturing in space .
7 . International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative Inc . ( Morrisville , North Carolina ) — US $ 290,865 . The funds will support a roadmap for advancing the manufacturing of 5G and 6G products to accelerate the development of the next generation of U . S . wireless networks . n