Aircraft and their components are extremely complex systems. During development, countless data sets and models are created describing these components, their behavior and interdependency. Their digital representation, so called digital twin, will become increasingly important in the coming years, as new business models will arise due to the utilization of new digital capabilities. The first signs of this trend are already being seen in the engine sector, where in addition to the purchase or leasing of the engine, other payment options depending on flight hours or used engine power are offered now. To make these business models possible digital twins as well as sensor values and engine data must be processed in simulations and models in an application layer. As a result specialized research and development area covering integration of digital twins into automated development and business processes will emerge in the near future.
The Digital Twin for Engine, Components and Aircraft Technologies (DigECAT) project is making an important contribution to the development and widespread implementation of digital twins utilizes concrete use cases. In this context, the data management system "shepard" devised at Center for Lightweight Production Technology (ZLP) in Augsburg will be used and further developed. Additionally, methods for digitalizing real geometries will be developed and tested. Using the example of an engine model, it will be shown how effects of geometry deviations resulting from production or operation can be taken into account in simulation processes.
The DigECAT project is a successor to the DigTwin project.
