Potential emissions savings of lightweight composite aircraft components evaluated through life cycle assessment

• DOI: 10.3144/expresspolymlett.2011.20
• Publication Date: 2011-02-08T04:58:41Z
• Authors: L. Scelsi; M. Bonner; A. Hodzic; C. Soutis; C. Wilson; R. Scaife; K. Ridgway
• Keywords: Low-cycle fatigue

A cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment (LCA) of structural aircraft materials has been utilised to assess and compare the total emissions produced during manufacturing, use disposal aerospace their selected components.First, a comparison aluminium, GLARE carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) plates was performed investigate potential lightweight composites in reducing aviation emissions.Subsequently, case study is presented on tubular component for which more accurate manufacturing data were directly available.A steel tube replaced with composite component.The analysis shown that once material used as aircraft, there cumulative saving fuel emissions, particular from CFRP structures.The environmental included long-term predictions CFRPs, involving detailed raw production, operation, scenarios.