Quality of fibre composites for modern aeroplanes

The Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) demonstrates its proficiency in composite materials research and testing using methods which have been specifically developed for this material class at the JEC exhibition (Journals and Exhibitions on Composites) in Paris from 3 to 5 April 2007.

In certain parts of the aircraft industry a new and more efficient method has been developed in close cooperation between the certification authorities and BAM. This method does not require expensive and lengthy service life tests on original components. Instead, it measures the service loading fatigue of the structure using representative components.

The new method makes the rapid certification of aeroplanes possible whilst simultaneously maintaining high quality and safety standards. It is intended to implement this method in various sectors of industry to achieve a wide use of composite materials.

The beneficial characteristics specific to fibre reinforced composites, in particular, high strength and relatively low weight, increasingly replace steel and aluminium alloys among construction materials. Fibre composite materials come together only at the manufacturing process of a component as opposed to the prefabrication needed for metallic construction components. Therefore, to guarantee the service loading fatigue of a primary structure, the processing instructions must be precisely and accurately followed. Crucially, the limiting stress of composite materials and the parameters used to certify the module depend on the individual manufacturing process. Therefore, to test the production quality of fibre composites at the requisite time, BAM has developed special non-destructive test methods such as an ultrasonic procedure, which can monitor the hardening of polymer matrix systems directly during the manufacturing process.

Information: Dr. Volker Trappe
BAM Division V.6 Mechanical Behaviour of Polymers
Phone: +49 30 8104-3386
Email: volker.trappe@bam.de

Media Contact

Dr. Ulrike Rockland idw

More Information:

http://www.bam.de

All latest news from the category: Materials Sciences

Materials management deals with the research, development, manufacturing and processing of raw and industrial materials. Key aspects here are biological and medical issues, which play an increasingly important role in this field.

innovations-report offers in-depth articles related to the development and application of materials and the structure and properties of new materials.

Back to home

Comments (0)

Write a comment

Newest articles

Lighting up the future

New multidisciplinary research from the University of St Andrews could lead to more efficient televisions, computer screens and lighting. Researchers at the Organic Semiconductor Centre in the School of Physics and…

Researchers crack sugarcane’s complex genetic code

Sweet success: Scientists created a highly accurate reference genome for one of the most important modern crops and found a rare example of how genes confer disease resistance in plants….

Evolution of the most powerful ocean current on Earth

The Antarctic Circumpolar Current plays an important part in global overturning circulation, the exchange of heat and CO2 between the ocean and atmosphere, and the stability of Antarctica’s ice sheets….

Partners & Sponsors