dc.contributor.advisor |
Battley, M |
en |
dc.contributor.author |
Frazer, Cameron |
en |
dc.date.accessioned |
2013-02-24T23:07:29Z |
en |
dc.date.issued |
2013 |
en |
dc.identifier.uri |
http://hdl.handle.net/2292/20052 |
en |
dc.description |
Available to authenticated members of The University of Auckland. |
en |
dc.description.abstract |
This research project is a technology demonstrator example as a final stage of a 5 year research programme funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. This technology demonstrator project was proposed by DTA to utilise the expertise in composite design and manufacturing resulting from the research programme. This thesis concentrates on the manufacturing technology of a lightweight UAV wing. The solid foam wing and sandwich shelled wing construction methods are investigated. Flat plate representations of these construction methods were manufactured with different processes, and tested mechanically. Three processes are evaluated; wet hand lay-up with vacuum bag consolidation, resin infusion and out of autoclave prepreg manufacture. The processes are evaluated on their final panel mass, surface finish and overall quality of the part produced. Production issues resulting from a thin core and lightweight skins were addressed. The parameters of the infusion process were found to affect the panel mass, core bond, surface finish and mechanical properties. The total panel mass produced by the infusion process for a foam cored sandwich was found to directly correlate to the density of the foam, and the absolute post-infusion pressure the sandwich was processed under. In general, as the core density increased the core resin uptake decreased. As absolute post-infusion pressure decreased core resin uptake decreased, and deterioration in core bond and surface finish was also observed. The resin uptake within the core was found to significantly affect the mechanical properties of the flat plate panels tested. In tension the excess resin within the core of an E-glass skinned sandwich increased the load at failure by up to 50 per cent higher than predicted values. Due to core crushing the solid foam wings were only able to be processed using the wet hand lay-up technique. From the results of the flat plate mechanical testing and panel mass investigation two sandwich shelled wings (one infused and one prepreg) and two solid foam wings were produced. It was concluded that the best post-infusion pressure for the production of the infused wing was 20kPa. It was also concluded from the mechanical testing that the demonstrator should have an E-glass skinned sandwich, as the E-glass outperformed the Kevlar in compression. If weight and cost are the driving factors, the solid foam wing construction was recommended. However if process repeatability, high part quality, and good dimensional tolerance are the driving factors the prepreg sandwich shelled wing was recommended. |
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dc.publisher |
ResearchSpace@Auckland |
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dc.relation.ispartof |
Masters Thesis - University of Auckland |
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dc.relation.isreferencedby |
UoA |
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dc.rights |
Items in ResearchSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated. Previously published items are made available in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. |
en |
dc.rights |
Restricted Item. Available to authenticated members of The University of Auckland. |
en |
dc.rights |
Restricted Item. Thesis embargoed until 2/2015. Items in ResearchSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated. |
en |
dc.rights.uri |
https://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/docs/uoa-docs/rights.htm |
en |
dc.rights.uri |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/nz/ |
en |
dc.title |
The manufacture of a lightweight composite UAV wing structure |
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dc.type |
Thesis |
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thesis.degree.discipline |
Mechanical Engineering |
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thesis.degree.grantor |
The University of Auckland |
en |
thesis.degree.level |
Masters |
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dc.rights.holder |
Copyright: The Author |
en |
pubs.elements-id |
373553 |
en |
pubs.record-created-at-source-date |
2013-02-25 |
en |
dc.identifier.wikidata |
Q112900045 |
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