Background 

• A reduction of the cost in aircraft developments is an urgent issue
• Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) and associated high-performance computers have been promising technologies to facilitate the issue above


• NEDO National Project on Advanced Materials & Process Development for Next-Generation Aircraft Structures started in 2015 and has accomplished the following items:
  →Optimization of a wing design at a cruise condition using Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics (CFRP) with various combinations of fibers and resins
  →Development of a simulation framework to realize a lower-cost certification process, laminar flow technology, engine-airframe integration, high-fidelity aerodynamic prediction at the non-cruise condition.


• The more advanced usage of composite materials is desired in the airframe structural design so that we can take advantage of something beyond just a reduction in the structural weight.
• One of the promising technologies is the use of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastics (CFRTP) in the airframe structures, which, however, has not been well-investigated worldwide yet.

CAE technologies to perform a full-aircraft design using composite materials

CAE technologies to evaluate the applicability of CFRTP to airframe structures

    →　Towards an Ideal Aircraft-structure Design for CFRTP.

Development details and expected results 

Brushing up the development system through industry-academic-government collaboration

Outreach of R&D results through international collaboration