Funding: European Space Agency with support from Enterprise Ireland
Partners: ÉireComposites & ATG Innovation Ltd
ÉireComposites and ATG Innovation Ltd partnered for a research and development project aimed at the advancement and maturation of CFRP grid stiffened and lattice composite structures which recently won the 2024 JEC award for Aerospace Parts.
The lattice structure consists of continuous carbon fibre tows arranged in an overlapping fashion. The resulting structure is both high performing and extremely lightweight, while at the same time is capable of providing a 30% reduction in part costs. Furthermore, the lattice and grid-stiffened architecture can provide up to 35% mass reduction compared to sandwich structures.
The project has culminated in the structural testing of a 1.5m diameter lattice cylinder manufactured from carbon fibre composite. Representative of a full-scale satellite central tube, this structure is based on requirements for ESA’s PLATO satellite, including all necessary interface zones. The composite component weighed just short of 10kg but was able to withstand 17,000kg of compression force. The test itself was carried out with the support of University of Galway’s heavy structures laboratory.
Key Benefits
The CFRP lattice carries a whole host of benefits for satellites, including:
- A one-shot manufacturing process
- Structural efficiency and significant mass savings
- Uninterrupted pre-preg fibres leading to optimised structural performance
- High specific stiffness
- Reduced manufacturing time and cost.
Project partners
ATG Innovation Ltd. is the Irish subsidiary of ATG Europe and specialises in the development of advanced structural applications for the space industry, such as satellite central tubes and launcher interstages. The company’s primary focus is their patented cost-efficient manufacturing methodology for continuous prepreg fibre placed grid-stiffened and lattice structures that allow manufacturing of high quality, complex, integrated composite products in a true one-shot process. ATG Innovation provides a “turn-key” technology that covers everything from correlated tools for conceptual design, analysis, and optimisation through to generation of build-to-print instructions for part fabrication, including comprehensive tooling concepts.
In summary, this patented technology marks a paradigm shift in spacecraft design, paving the way for more efficient and advanced solutions and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the aerospace industry.
