Counterpoint releases white paper on the role of composites in future aircraft

Source of aircraft fuel efficiency. Source (All Images) | Counterpoint Market Intelligence

Counterpoint Market Intelligence (Chesterford, U.K.), an aerospace market research consultancy, recently released a white paper entitled “The Crucial Role of Composites in Next-Generation Aircraft Design.” This in-depth report explores how advanced composite materials are transforming the aerospace industry by enabling long and thin wings, lighter airframes and significant fuel savings. Counterpoint has written the article in collaboration with Hexcel Corp. (Stamford, Conn., U.S.).

According to ICAO forecasts, air travel is predicted to grow about 4% annually through 2050. Innovations, such as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) or alternative propulsion technology, can assist in getting the industry to net zero. However high costs associate with supply chain development and technology’s long timeline may present a challenge for the industry. Therefore, reducing the amount of fuel consumed in the first place using existing technologies is a critical step.

So, what are the key advantages of composite use? Historically, aircraft manufacturers have improved fuel efficiency (in terms of fuel per passenger-mile) through four major levers: improved engine technology, higher density of seats and passengers, aerodynamic improvements and reducing structural weight. The use of composites is a key enabler in three of them. Although engine technology has been a key driver of efficiency in the past, Counterpoint believes that structural weight and aerodynamics will play a pivotal role in future designs as pushing the boundaries with engine technology becomes more difficult.

Composites can assist aircraft designers in reducing fuel burn through two primary mechanisms: lowering the weight of the aircraft and optimizing the wing design. This white paper discusses how the distinctive properties of composites enable aerodynamic designs that are not feasible with metallic materials. More than just being lightweight, these aerodynamic efficiencies drive large reductions in drag and resulting fuel consumption.

These advanced materials are already in widespread use in modern aircraft designs, but the untapped opportunity for composite materials remains large. In the chart at right, each stacked represents the empty weight of one aircraft, and the number of bars represents the number of aircraft produced each month based on manufacturer forecasts. Boeing and Airbus’ current single-aisle aircraft have the highest production rates in the industry. Current generation designs use relatively little composite materials, and next-generation designs have the opportunity to use significantly more composite materials.

The full white paper expands on each of these points, providing examples and data quantify the effects of composites in aircraft design.