GENIAL

optimizinG Electrical Network In AirpLane composite structures

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'GENIAL project aims at developing a numerical methodology and a SW tool to model the current return networks (called ALEEN, ALmost Equipotential Electrical Network) installed aboard composite aircrafts. It will be able to: - input geometry and material properties of ALEEN (including also metallic structural parts of the aircraft if any) from CAD; - accept measured data as partial characterization of ALEEN sub-parts; - evaluate the impedance matrix of ALEEN in the frequency range DC-100 kHz, also considering the EWIS (Electrical Wiring Interconnection System) and the electromagnetic interaction with aircraft body; - interface the above mentioned impedance matrix with an electrical database of EWIS, in order to evaluate the impedance between any two interconnection points of EWIS. A 3D full-wave procedure will be implemented based on PEEC (Partial Element Equivalent Circuit) method. A number of improvements with respect to “standard” PEEC algorithm will be implemented (e.g. non-orthogonal PEEC to avoid staircase problem; modelling of anisotropic composites; modelling of non-radiating networks; effective skin-effect modelling; Model Order Reduction, MOR). Acceleration methods like MLFMA (Multi-Level Fast Multipole Algorithm) and parallel coding will be applied in order to allow effective analysis of large structures in a limited amount of time, with currently available HW resources (i.e. no expensive HPC resources required). The computational module will be integrated, together with pre-processing and post-processing modules, into a SW CAE tool (“ALEEN Modelling Tool”) also providing user-friendly working procedures, projects management, data storing and data navigation. A general “client-server” HW configuration will be allowed (without any limitations about the number of clients and servers) with automatic dispatching procedures for optimal exploitation of the HW resources. The procedure will be validated against experimental data measured on a mock-up.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

EU-funded scientists have developed a numerical methodology and a software tool to model the conductive electrical pathways on aircraft structures made of high and low conductive materials, as composite materials.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Previously, aircraft fuselage elements and its primary structures were made from metals. This provided a natural current return network (CRN) to carry functional and fault currents or handle electrostatic charge draining and electromagnetic shielding.

The recent transition to increased usage of composite materials provided cost and weight savings while enhancing performance. Unfortunately, composite materials have poor electrical conductivity and there is a need for dedicated conductive CRN pathways such as almost equipotential electrical network (ALEEN).

The EU-funded 'Optimizing electrical network in airplane composite structure' (http://genialproject.univaq.it/ (GENIAL)) project focused on the electromagnetic characterisation of the ALEEN structure. Accurate electromagnetic characterisation will enable the proper design of electrical systems such as electrical wiring interconnection system (EWIS) without the need for repeated bread boarding.

Project partners developed a computer-aided engineering (CAE) tool that is able to input aircraft and ALEEN geometries and material properties from the computer-aided design (CAD). This evaluates the equivalent impedance matrix at ALEEN terminals in the frequency range of 0 to hundreds of kilohertz. Aspects such as the EWIS and the electromagnetic interaction with aircraft body are also accounted for.

GENIAL applied full-wave 3D modelling based on the surface formulation of the partial element equivalent circuit method, considering all electromagnetic interactions such as coupling and proximity effects. This type of method was selected for its effectiveness in the low-frequency region. Particular effort has been devoted to high-fidelity modelling to improve accuracy without the need for simplifying the numerical model with respect to the CAD model.

The developed tool will be applied in the design verification and production stages of ALEEN structures. To test the performance of the CAE procedure, the numerical method is expected to be applied to a real aircraft.