A Route to Sustainable Aviation: A Roadmap for the Realization of Aircraft Components With Electrical and Structural Multifunctionality

Increased electrification of aircraft power systems has been widely presented as a route toward meeting environmental and emissions targets for performance, via more-electric future hybrid-electric concepts. In parallel, the superior mechanical performance carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) resulted in its increasing use structures. The relatively low electrical conductivity CFRP compared to traditional aluminum structures copper conductors limits structural elements, so separate are needed. This adds mass volume system, negating some benefits using CFRP. Closer integration composite structure system (EPS), with an ultimate goal achieving components multifunctionality (combined thermal, electrical, functionality), offers light-weighting these systems, thus supporting improvements performance. article presents roadmap achieve this multifunctionality, supported by combination introducing definitions different levels associated design thresholds, trades between EPS materials/structures. Existing multifunctional (MF) electrical–thermal–structural CFRP-based solutions contextualized within roadmap. enables realization viable routes developing MF strategic focus research efforts.