A Comparison of Lightweight Design Concepts of a Passenger Aircraft Seat Using Topology and CFRP Laminate Optimization

Abstract

— The aerospace industry has significant motive to create lightweight structures to further the development of high efficiency aircraft. A topology optimization (TO) and laminate optimization approach to design a lightweight passenger seat concept was performed. Also, two types of discontinuous carbon-fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP), sheet molding compound (SMC) and long fiber prepreg sheet (LFPS) were compared in a case study against aluminum. discontinuous CFRP materials have undergone technological advancement and can pose as cost effective alternatives to continuous CFRP materials with acceptable performance loss. Optimization results were interpreted to form three lightweight design concepts which show notable weight saving potential. Among the three equal mass concepts, both discontinuous CFRP concepts showed 6-8% lower compliance compared to aluminum, indicating potential for further weight reduction when using discontinuous CFRP material to meet the same stiffness requirements as a conventional aluminum design.