AIRBUS and University of Stuttgart debate: Tied foam vs. sandwich cores AIRBUS and the University of Stuttgart compare the two leading approaches of tied foam vs. sandwich cores and analyse the weight and cost saving benefits in an exclusive interview. Read it here: http://bit.ly/Klett_qna

1. Advancements in the Field of Foam
Core Technology
At this year’s international conference Innovative Aircraft Cabin Composites & Lightweight Materials, one
of the topics discussed will be the advancements taking place within the field of foam core technology.
Dr.-Ing. Yves Klett, Sandwich group leader at the Institute of Aircraft Design of the University of Stuttgart,
and Dr.-Ing. Gregor Endres, Research Engineer at AIRBUS Group Innovations GmbH will hereby host an
interactive workshop to compare and contrast the two leading approaches of tied foam vs. sandwich
cores. We had the chance to talk to both of our speakers before the event. Read the full interviews here!
www.aircraft-cabin-composites.com
Speaking to Experts
IQPC: Reducing weight without renouncing
comfort is often named as one of the key
challenges in aircraft cabin design. Do you
agree? And do you think that an increased use
of composites within the cabin is the best way to
achieve this aim?
Yves Klett: Sure – there is no way around
composites here. While proven solutions are subject
to permanent optimization, new construction
paradigms and higher functional integration can
now be realized using cutting-edge composite
technology.
Gregor Endres: I generally agree. Especially e.g.
in acoustics additional weight reduction does
often have a large impact on the cabin noise. So
weight reduction and comfort improvement is
really challenging. An increased use of composites
does allow an overall weight decrease. On the
other hand saved weight can be partly used for an
improved cabin comfort. (e.g. local integration of
active elements for noise cancelling or local thermal
insulation or heating).
IQPC: Regarding the benefits and costs of using
light materials – do you think that light materials
pay off?
Yves Klett: With very slim margins in the airline
business, cost is a crucial factor, and more expensive
solutions need to provide substantial benefits.
One way to provide these benefits lies in advanced
systemic lightweight design.
Gregor Endres: It’s the same with all materials: used
in the right way and the right place their benefits will
pay-off. Forcing materials into certain applications
will always lead towards disadvantages.
IQPC: How to maximise passenger comfort in
minimal space? Can passenger comfort in fact be
improved by composite technologies?
Yves Klett: While the overall customer experience is
a result of a most complex interaction of numerous
factors, composite technologies can help save space
– if the engineering takes care to make the most of
the material, e.g. by consequent fibre-fair design.
Gregor Endres: Composite technologies are a very
wide range of material technologies. Especially
“hybrid structures” like sandwich with a wide range
of available core materials can help to improve the
passenger comfort.
IQPC: Where do you see the current most