AimCon: Application-oriented material testing and modeling demonstrating the potential in new Containment designs
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | GKN Aerospace Sweden AB |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 6 797 110 |
| Project duration | November 2025 - November 2028 |
| Status | Ongoing |
| Venture | NFFP - Demo |
| Call | NFFP-Demo: National Aeronautics Research Program´s demonstrator call |
Purpose and goal
The project aims at replaceing resource-intensive manufacturing of new future containment designs with sustainable methods such as welding, forming and AM. This means that material utilization may increase from <20% to 80. however it creates new challenges in predicting the performance of advanced superalloys. aimcon develops a validated physics-based simulation chain that tracks the materials manufacturing history to enable reliable design according to criteria for fan-blade-out events.>
Expected effects and result
The project is expected to raise the TRL of welded containment structures from 4 to 6 through a validated digital tool chain. This reduces material use, energy consumption and development costs. Collaboration between industry, institutes, academia and SMEs is strengthened, which builds national expertise in advanced materials and simulation. The project enables safe design and manufacturing before physical testing, which reduces risks and prepares for a full-scale industrial demonstrator.
Planned approach and implementation
The project is divided into five work packages, starting with design and planning for experiments of test geometries and the component-like demonstrator. Next, method development for simulation of the proposed manufacturing process chain including damage and failure models. Data and models are then integrated, which finally are applied to an industrial demonstrator for validation of fan-blade-out performance. Project management, sustainability, gender equality and dissemination are covered.