Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-vsgnj Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-17T04:10:43.188Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Innovative approaches to composite structures

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 July 2016

K. D. Potter
Affiliation:
Department of Aerospace Engineering University of Bristol Bristol, UK
M. R. Wisnom
Affiliation:
Department of Aerospace Engineering University of Bristol Bristol, UK
M. V. Lowson
Affiliation:
Department of Aerospace Engineering University of Bristol Bristol, UK
R. D. Adams
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering University of Bristol Bristol, UK

Extract

The precise birth date of the aerospace composites industry cannot readily be identified; perhaps one should really talk about its rebirth as the first aircraft relied on natural composites such as wood. McMullen gives 1946 as the date that work on cellulose based composites for aircraft use was abandoned in favour of much more stable inorganic reinforcement fibres. This change in the direction of approach was crucial to further developments and can be thought of as marking the start of the aerospace composites industry that can be seen today. Whatever the exact date the industry is now about 50 years old so this golden jubilee edition seems an appropriate place to look at the constraints on the use of composite materials and at recent work at Bristol University aimed at reducing these constraints.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 1998 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. McMullen, P. Fibre/resin composites for aircraft primary structures, a short history, 1936-1984, July 1984, 15, (3), pp 222229.Google Scholar
2. Smithells, C.J. Metal Reference Book, Vol 3, Butterworths London, 1967.Google Scholar
3. Ciba Geigy Datasheet, T800/924 prepreg, 1988.Google Scholar
4. Hull, D. An Introduction to Composite Materials, Cambridge University Press, 1981.Google Scholar
5. Krolewski, S. and Gutowski, T. Effect of the automation of advanced composite fabrication processes on part cost, 18th International SAMPE Technical Conference, 1986, pp 8397.Google Scholar
6. Weisner, E.S. and Baucom, R.M. Moulding of complex composite parts utilising modified silicone rubber tooling, J Advanced Materials, SAMPE, October 1994, 26, pp 28.Google Scholar
7. Potter, K.D. Resin Transfer Moulding, theory and practice, Proc 6th European Conference on Composite Materials, Woodhead Publishing. Cambridge, 1993, pp 597602.Google Scholar
8. Christensen, S. and Clark, L.P. Thermoplastic composites for structural applications an emerging technology, Proc 31st SAMPE Symposium, April 1986, pp 1747–55.Google Scholar
9. Manders, P.W. and Kowalski, I.M. The effect of small angular fibre misalignments and tabbing techniques on the tensile strength of carbon fibre composites, Proc 32nd International SAMPE Symposium, April 1987, pp 985–91.Google Scholar
10. Jones, R., Broughton, W., Mawsley, R. and Potter, R. Compression failure of damaged graphite epoxy laminate, Composites Structures, 1985, 3, (85), pp 167186.Google Scholar
11. Wisnom, M.R., Jones, M.I. and Cui, W. Failure of tapered composites under static and fatigue tension loading, AIAA J, 33, (5), May 1995, pp 911-8.Google Scholar
12. Hart-Smith, L.J. Designing with advanced fibrous composites, Proc Australian Bicentennial International Congress in Mechanical engineering, 1988.Google Scholar
13. Jones, S.E. and Platts, M.J. Using internal fibre geometry to improve the performance of pin-loaded holes in composite materials, Applied Composite Materials, Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1996, 3, pp 117-34.Google Scholar
14. Verpoest, I., Wevers, M. and De Meester, P. 2·5D and 3D fabrics for delamination resistant composite laminates and sandwich structures, SAMPE J, 1989, 25, (3), pp 5156.Google Scholar
15. Piggott, M. and Harris, B. Factors affecting the compression strength of aligned fibre composites, Advances in composite materials, (Bun-Sell, A.R., Bathias, C., Martrenchar, A., Menkes, D. and Verchery, G. (Eds)) Pergamon Press, 1980, pp 305312.Google Scholar
16. Mrse, A. and Piggott, M. Relation between fibre divagation and compressive properties of fibre composites, Proc 35th international SAMPE symposium, April 1990, 2236-44.Google Scholar
17. Potter, K.D. and Towse, A. Design and manufacturing study for a small, complex component required in large production volumes for a spaceplane application, submitted to 11th international conference on composite materials, Australia, July 1997.Google Scholar
18. Clarke, A., Wisnom, M.R. and Potter, K.D. A comparison of the mechanical properties of graphlite unidirectional carbon rod with conventional prepreg, submitted to the 4th conference on: deformation and fracture of composites, Manchester, March 1997.Google Scholar
19. Adams, R.D., Atkins, R.W., Harris, J.A. and Kinloch, A.J. Stress analysis and failure properties of carbon-fibre reinforced plastic/steel double lap joints, J Adhesion, 1986, 20, pp.2953.Google Scholar
20. Towse, A., Da Vies, R.G.H., Wisnom, M.R., Adams, R.D. and Potter, K.D. The design and analysis of high load intensity adhesively bonded double lap joints, submitted to the 4th conference on: deformation and fracture of composites, Manchester, March 1997.Google Scholar
21. Towse, A., Potter, K.D., Wisnom, M.R., and Adams, R.D. A novel comb joint concept for high strength unidirectional carbon fibre bonded joints, submitted to 11th international conference on composite materials, Australia, July 1997.Google Scholar
22. Clarke, A.B., Davies, R.G.H., Potter, K.D., Wisnom, M.R. and Adams, R.D. The design and manufacture of high performance unidirectional composite tubular joints, submitted to 11th international conference on composite materials, Australia, July 1997.Google Scholar