Overview
For many traditionally manufactured structural parts, a change to AM provides opportunities for cost and weight reduction: Recurring cost reductions are based on a much better buy-to-fly (BTF) ratio and better functionalities, i.e. design options to integrate more functions in one part, which could lead to a part count reduction. Better weight reduction can be achieved by additional design options for topology optimisation. However, design, manufacturing and qualification and certificaiton aspects need to be understood to employ this technology for more parts in the future and to make use of the benefits of AM. To goal of this project is to establish a concept for qualification and certification and proof of concept. Proof of concept will require computed x-ray tomographie for the evaluation of AM discontinuties and the determination of a transfer function between discontinuity (e.g. lack of fusion, pores, etc.) distributions and no-growth threshold respectively related design allowables.
