Repair and manufacturing of military aircraft components by additive manufacturing technology

Additive manufacturing (AM) is a cutting-edge technology with the potential to dramatically change the way structures and components are currently designed and manufactured. In particular, additive manufacturing offers an effective repair technology for military aircraft components. In this paper, AM is shown to be a possible solution for repairing geometrical (or non-fracture critical) aircraft components. The development of structural repairs is also investigated. The work presented demonstrates the suitability and advantages of AM technology for geometrical and structural restorations. The results show much potential for improving military aircraft availability and reducing aircraft maintenance costs. The paper also investigates the current research work for improving the mechanical properties of materials and parts fabricated by AM technologies.