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25 / Apr / 2016

Technological development of composite materials manufacturing processes applied to Ground Service Equipment in the aeronautical field


Technological development of composite materials manufacturing processes applied to Ground Service Equipment in the aeronautical field


Gobierno de España
This Project, “Technological development of composite materials manufacturing processes applied to Ground Service Equipment in the aeronautical field”, Carbon-GSE, intends to use methods traditionally employed for composites in order to produce auxiliary equipment used to handle aircrafts during landing and taking off. 

Carbon-GSE is being carried out in cooperation with Langa Industrial S.A., settled in Navalcarnero, Spain, a pioneer company in the production of ground service equipment for aircraft maintenance and ground maneuvers. This project uses national funding coming from the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad from Spain.

Calculation studies for equipment viability have been done, giving as a conclusion that tow bars are the perfect candidate for its structural carbonization. This device allows entering aircrafts from their initial parking spot to the take-off runway. Tow bars comprise three main parts: a metallic cylindrical tube affected mainly by high tensile forces, an end which serves as a union between the tow bar and the tractor vehicle, and a second end which connects the tow head and the shaft between wheels of the landing gear.

Carbonization of different areas gives the opportunity to save about 50% on weight in the cylindrical tube of the portable tow bar, which achieves lighter devices that make possible a decrease in fuel consumption and total weight during air freight.

Next images give a nice example about the different solutions and geometries for the tube and joint element. The tow bar in this project is portable, larger than 4m and able to resist more than 40tons load while working. The tube is divided in three elements, to ease assembly and disassembly before and after landing.

Carbon GSE enters carbon fiber composites in the ancillary ground service equipment, which improve meaningfully weight savings and usability and maneuverability for operators and people.



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