Study on Possible Replacement of the Aluminum Spar with a Composite Structure Illustrated with the Case of Agricultural Aircraft

Composite materials are increasingly being used in aviation. Specific stiffness and strength of composite materials (especially CFRP laminate, sandwich structure) are higher compared to metal alloys. They are beneficial features of materials used in aviation. Mass reduction of aircraft structures (e.g. due to the use of composite materials) contributes to an aircraft’s better performance in terms of its range, top speed and ceiling and consequently causes an increase in airplanes capacity. Moreover, the use of high-strength and lightweight materials in aviation contributes to longer life time and lower exploitation costs. The aim of the paper was the study the possibilities of replacing the aluminum spar of an airplane wing with a composite structure. In order to compare the mass and strength of the aluminum with the composite spar, the global shell and local solid models were created and finite elements analysis was performed. The analysis was carried out for the front spar of the wing of the agricultural aircraft PZL-106.