EADS CCR

By: François MARIE (EADS CCR)

M. François MARIE
EADS CCR
12 rue Pasteur
BP 7692152 Suresnes Cedex
France
Tel No : +33 1 46 97 30 63
Fax No : +33 1 46 97 37 30
E-mail : francois.marie@eads.net

Brief history

The GIE EADS CCR is a 'Groupement d'Intérêt Economique (G.I.E.^[1])', formed between EADS and its main subsidiaries: Airbus, Aerospatiale Matra Missiles and EADS Launch Vehicles, and was founded in April 1999.

The objective assigned to the GIE EADS CCR is to carry out, to the benefit of its members, research activities which require a concentration of skills or equipment, or which correspond to a generic interest for the EADS Group. In this objective, the main activities of the GIE EADS CCR are technological research, evaluation and development of processes, methodologies, design and simulation tools in the following technical fields:

Materials (characterisation and behaviour modelling)
Structures
Manufacturing processes
Non-destructive investigations
Surface treatment processes
Environment
Computer integrated manufacturing
Information technologies
Documentation engineering
Lightning protection
Electromagnetic compatibility
Electronics and opto-electronics
Optics and lasers
High performance scientific computing

The GIE EADS CCR has a permanent staff of 250 people, 60% of which are senior scientists.

Thanks to its rich and high technology equipment and expert personnel, the GIE EADS CCR can study every problem arising at the design, manufacturing or use phases of the life cycle of EADS products (aircraft, helicopters, space launchers...). It has been involved for several years in many co-operation programmes with more than 200 industrial or academic partners in France and Europe, including partners outside the aerospace sector (automotive, electronics, ...).

EADS CCR's contributions to the EuroStir^® project

To develop curvilinear friction stir welding with reduced tooling
To develop welding closure methods

Summary of FSW activities at EADS CCR

ESAB SuperStir^TM FSW lab machine © 2001, ESAB

EADS CCR has been carrying out friction stir welding developments in collaboration with TWI and ESAB since 1998.

Late 2000 EADS CCR ordered an ESAB SuperStir^TM FSW lab machine with Institut de Soudure. The machine is designed for welding all kinds of aluminium alloys, up to 15 mm thick for the 7000 series (thicker will be possible for other alloys). It can weld longitudinally up to 2 meters long and can accommodate circumferential and curvilinear welding with different radiuses.

The machine can be controlled either by positioning the welding tool (penetration), or by applying the vertical welding force. Furthermore, the welding head is not only designed to use the conventional tool but also to use the retractable pin technique as well as the bobbin tool technique.

The machine is equipped with strong hydraulic clamping fixtures, representative of production ones. The equipment will be delivered in October 2001 to EADS CCR.

Reference

A G.I.E. is a legal entity governed by the decision No 67-821, dated on September 23rd, 1967, modified by the French laws No 84-148, dated on March 1st, 1984, No 85-698, dated on July 11th, 1985, No 88-15, dated on January 5th, 1988, and No 89-377, dated on June 13th, 1989.

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