Virtual assembly for complex aerospace products- a case study on the assembly of an aircraft wing.

The assembly of an aeroplane wing is a complex labour-intensive operation. The operation is characterised by the size of the components, the need for mechanical, hydraulic, electrical components, space constraints within the wing box and the stringent standards required for certification. Improvements of the wing assembly process could be analysed and improved by modern virtual assembly techniques. This paper analysed and optimised the assembly with the approach of virtual assembly techniques. Examples of virtual assembly based on DELMIA was given with special emphasis on the ergonomics aspects of the operation. The results shown that the assembly sequences of the wing panel can be improved by the virtual simulation.