Hello,
For some reason I can't really explain myself, I'm wandering about using 3D printing for structural applications and airplanes. All demonstrate that balsa and other woods are great materials, and much better than PLA and PETG. The planes I'm interested in are challenging: F3RES 2m built up gliders 12g/dm2. For that scope, only hope is a "built-up" 3D printed wing with:
For the spar web, I found those 2 interesting documents on the net:
Additive Manufacturing is cool, but balsa looks still here for some time
JMF
For some reason I can't really explain myself, I'm wandering about using 3D printing for structural applications and airplanes. All demonstrate that balsa and other woods are great materials, and much better than PLA and PETG. The planes I'm interested in are challenging: F3RES 2m built up gliders 12g/dm2. For that scope, only hope is a "built-up" 3D printed wing with:
- optimised 3D printed ribs,
- carbon strips (ex 3mmx0.5mm) as spar caps, and possibly wing trailing edge,
- well engineered 3D printed web if could finally make sense,
- Carbon boom
- To be Defined for elevator and rudder that need to be super light.
For the spar web, I found those 2 interesting documents on the net:
- Using Large-Scale Additive Manufacturing for Wind Turbine Blade Core Structures: https://research-hub.nrel.gov/en/pu...ditive-manufacturing-for-wind-turbine-blade-c. It explores if a 3D printed honeycomb core could replace balsa. Basically NO :-(. Even in composite core applications, blasa has about 6-8 time better shear strength than the 3D printed honeycomb,
- Modeling and failure analysis of composite I-beams for UAV wing spar design: https://shareok.org/handle/11244/333844. A lot of information bout physics in spars and how to test them.
Additive Manufacturing is cool, but balsa looks still here for some time
JMF
