Case study - Aeronautics
Lightweighting Aircraft Bracket Design: How Potez Aéronautique Achieved Major Weight Savings

Aircraft manufacturers are continually striving to enhance fuel efficiency, reduce emissions, and optimize operational costs for a more sustainable future. One of the most effective strategies is structural lightweighting—removing unnecessary material while maintaining strength and safety. However, conventional CAD tools often fall short, leading to design limitations, inefficiencies, and costly iterations. Thus, Cognitive Design serves as a powerful enabler, helping to overcome these challenges by unlocking new possibilities in optimization and manufacturability.
In collaboration with Potez Aéronautique, a leading aerostructure supplier, we leveraged Cognitive Design's capabilities to optimize a critical aircraft door bracket for the Dassault Aviation Falcon 6X. By integrating topology optimization workflow, Simulation-Driven Design, and Manufacturing-Driven Design within a single environment, we successfully reduced engineering lead time threefold and achieved a 30% weight reduction compared to an optimized bracket for machining.
in this case study, discover how Potez Aéronautique accelerated development, enhanced performance, and minimized manufacturing risks with our cutting-edge design approach.
The optimized part

The outcomes
Performances:
30% compared to optimization for Machining
8% stress reduction after Topology optimization
Engineering lead time reduction:
28 hours (3 times faster than traditional CAD methods)
The workflow in Cognitive Design
Topology optimization workflow
Simulation-Driven Design
Manufacturing-Driven Design
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