Special Issue on High Performance Machining of Aircraft Materials

This Special Issue focuses on advanced manufacturing processes and production systems for aircraft and space engine and fuselage components. Emphasis will be placed on thin-walled and thin-floor structures, where dimensional accuracy, surface integrity, and process stability are critical.

Manufacturing processes and the machine tools and production equipment used to produce these components are within the scope of this issue. Conventional and advanced machining processes, including high-performance and high-speed machining, milling, drilling, and finishing operations, are of primary interest, especially for aluminium alloys, titanium alloys, and CFRP. Special attention is given to machining challenges such as tool wear, burr formation, delamination, thermal effects, and distortion in thin-walled aerospace and space structures.

Studies on solid-state joining and forming technologies, such as friction stir welding (FSW), friction stir processing, and advanced forming processes for lightweight materials, are also welcome, particularly for structural aerospace and space components. Selected contributions on additive manufacturing of lightweight metallic materials may be considered, especially when integrated with machining or forming operations in hybrid manufacturing routes.

Furthermore, research addressing machine tools, production systems, tooling, fixturing, automation, and process optimization for the manufacture of aircraft and space engine and fuselage components is also included within the scope. Contributions that integrate process monitoring, manufacturing metrology, and quality control into production environments are of interest when directly linked to manufacturing performance.

Studies that are limited to the application of ANOVA, Taguchi methods, or simple descriptive results, without substantial scientific or technological advancement, will not be considered.

Timeline:

Date First Submission Expected:  1 April 2026

Final Manuscript Submission Deadline: 20 December 2026

Guest editors:

• Prof. Dr. Luis Norberto López de Lacalle, Advanced manufacturing centre for aeronautics, Universidad del País Vasco UPV-EHU, Leioa, Spain. Email: norberto.lzlacalle@ehu.eus
• Asoc Prof. Jun Wang, Researcher, Xi' an Jiaotong University, Xi' an, China. Email: junwang_research@163.com