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technology breakthroughs. Viewers are virtually taken to labs and research centers to learn how design engineers are enhancing product performance/reliability, reducing cost, improving quality, safety or environmental impact, and achieving regulatory compliance. In the episode "Composite Materials: Advanced Materials and Lightweighting" (30:20), Molded Fiber Glass Companies, known for its deep involvement in the creative development of the molded fiberglass process for the Corvette, demonstrates the manufacturing of sheet molded composite for fiberglass parts. Tanom Motors introduces the Tanom Invader , a blend between an automobile and a motorcycle made exclusively with composite materials. Finally, Euro-Composites demonstrates the manufacturing of honeycomb core material made out of aramid paper and phenolic resin used in aircraft structures.

The foundation of many production aircraft assembly facilities is a more dynamic and unpredictable quantity than we would sometimes care to admit. Any tooling structures constructed on these floors, no matter how thoroughly analyzed or well understood, are at the mercy of settling and shifting concrete, which can cause very lengthy and costly periodic re-certification and adjustment procedures. It is with this in mind, then, that we explore the design possibilities for one such structure to be built in Belfast, North Ireland for the assembly of the Shorts C-Series aircraft wings. We evaluate the peak floor pressure, weight, gravity deflection, drilling deflection, and thermal deflection of four promising structures and discover that carefully designed pivot points and tension members can offer significant benefits in some areas.

Abstract Inspection of Composite panels is vital to the assessment of their ability to be fit for purpose. Conventional methods such as X-ray CT and Ultrasonic scanning can be used, however, these are often expensive and time consuming processes. In this paper we investigate the use of off-the-shelf Non-Destructive Test, NDT, equipment utilizing Fringe projection hardware and open source software to rapidly evaluate a series of composite panels. These results are then verified using destructive analysis of the panels to prove the reliability of the rapid NDT methods for use with carbon composite panels. This process allows us to quickly identify regions of geometric intolerance or formed defects without the use of expensive sub-surface scanning systems, enabling a fast and cost effective initial part evaluation system. The focus of this testing series is on 6mm thick pre-preg carbon-epoxy composite laminates that have been laid up using AFP and formed using TRF.

Abstract The use of nanomaterials and nanostructures have been revolutionizing the advancements of science and technology in various engineering and medical fields. As an example, Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) have been extensively used for the improvement of mechanical, thermal, electrical, magnetic, and deteriorative properties of traditional composite materials for applications in high-performance structures. The exceptional materials properties of CNTs (i.e., mechanical, magnetic, thermal, and electrical) have introduced them as promising candidates for reinforcement of traditional composites. Most structural configurations of CNTs provide superior material properties; however, their geometrical shapes can deliver different features and characteristics. As one of the unique geometrical configurations, helical CNTs have a great potential for improvement of mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties of polymeric resin composites.

Abstract It is reasonable to use a two-phase heat transfer loop (TPL) in a thermal control system (TCS) of spacecraft with large heat dissipation. One of the key elements of TPL is a heat-controlled accumulator (HCA). The HCA represents a volume which is filled with vapor and liquid of a single working fluid without bellows. The pressure in a HCA is controlled by the heater. The heat and mass transfer processes in the HCA can proceed with a significant nonequilibrium. This has implications on the regulation of TPL. This article presents a mathematical model of nonequilibrium heat and mass transfer processes in an HCA for microgravity conditions. The model uses the equations of mass and energy conservation separately for the vapor and liquid phases. Interfacial heat and mass transfer is also taken into account. It proposes to use the convective component k for the level of nonequilibrium evaluation.

Abstract The paper presents a complete description of the design and manufacturing of a Carbon Fiber/epoxy mold with an embedded Carbon Fiber resistor heater, and the mold performances in terms of its surface temperature distribution and thermal deformations resulting from the heating. The mold was designed for manufacturing aileron skins from Vacuum Bag Only prepreg cured at 135°C. The glass transition temperature of the used resin-hardener system was about 175°C. To ensure homogenous temperature of the mold working surface in the course of curing, the Carbon Fiber heater was embedded in a layer of a highly heat-conductive cristobalite/epoxy composite, forming the core of the mold shell. Because the cristobalite/epoxy composite displayed much higher thermal expansion than CF/epoxy did, thermal stresses could arise due to this discrepancy in the course of heating.

Abstract The supersession of metallic alloys with lightweight, high-strength composites is popular in the aircraft industry. However, aviation electronic enclosures for large format batteries and high power conversion electronics are still primarily made of aluminum alloys. These aluminum enclosures have attractive properties regrading structural integrity for the heavy internal parts, electromagnetic interference (EMI) suppression, electrical bonding for the internal cells, and/or electronics and failure containment. This paper details a lightweight carbon fiber composite chassis developed at Meggitt Sensing Systems (MSS) Securaplane, with a copper metallic mesh co-cured onto the internal surfaces resulting in a 50% reduction in weight when compared to its aluminum counterpart. In addition to significant weight reduction, it provides equal or improved performance with respect to EMI, structural and flammability performance.

The 18 papers in this technical paper collection focus on aircraft coatings technologies; advanced metal materials, fabrication, and joining processes; advanced low cost aircraft structures; advanced robotics and automation applications; information technologies; structural health monitoring; lean manufacturing integration; metrology automated systems; high output composites; RFID applications in aerospace; hybrid metal/composite drilling and assembly; and environmental compliance, green and sustainable applications.

The SAE Aerospace Information Report (AIR) is intended to be used as a process verification guide for evaluating implementation of key factors in bonded repair of fiber reinforced composite structure in a repair shop environment. The guide will be used in conjunction with a regulatory approved and substantiated repair, and is intended to promote consistency and reliability.

This guidebook will assist in the design and integration of composite commercial aircraft structures that exhibit improved durability, maintainability and repairability. For international use by composite aircraft component designers, this book identifies problems that have occurred with various composite components and provides potential problem-solving recommendations. Written primarily for composite design engineers, Design of Durable, Repairable, and Maintainable Aircraft Composites should also prove valuable to those in structural engineering, materials and processing, product support, advanced product development, systems engineering, technical services, and maintenance operations.

SAE CACRC has produced several standards, each representing the best-practice, recommended minimum training syllabus for the aforementioned target groups. The purpose of this document is to promote the use of these SAE standards, particularly for developing training programs for employee training, qualification in airlines and maintenance organizations, and as reference in regulatory guidance material. It summarizes, as a quick reference, the content of each training document and its relation to and interaction with other training documents. Thereby it allows users to select the appropriate training documents and syllabi to establish a comprehensive, sequential training program build-up customized to the specific needs of the aforementioned functions (see figure). This document does not intend to introduce new training content/syllabus.

To create Guidance on the essential information/data that is needed to correctly assess damage and document the damage. A guidance document is proposed as the initial step in which it is documented what essential information is required for a composite repair with the aim to reduce to number of back and forward communications, improve the documents to define damage such as mapping, damage descriptions, sketches, pictures. CACRC Procedures Task Group will be drafting the document.

Increased use of advanced composite structural materials on aircraft has resulted in the need to address the more demanding quality and non-destructive testing procedures. Accordingly, increased utilization of solid laminate composites is driving changes to airline NDT training requirements and greater emphasis on the application of accurate NDT methods. Modules, including an introduction to composite materials, composite NDI theory and practice, special cases and lessons learned, have been produced in addition to various hands-on NDT exercises. A set of proficiency specimens containing realistic composite structures and representative damage has been designed in order to reinforce teaching points of the course and “test” inspector’s proficiency. Extensive details of the course modules, hand-on exercises and the proficiency specimens are all presented in this report.

This document is intended to provide guidance towards setting up a composite repair workshop facility

Detail specification for T700S-12K-50C/#2511 Plain Weave Fabric

The purpose of this specification is to allow procurement of a defined material corresponding to statistically derived material properties published in CMH-17. This material is intended for use in laminate applications with a service temperature up to 180 °F. They are typically used in structural applications requiring high strength and stiffness.

The purpose of this specification is to allow procurement of a defined material corresponding to statistically derived material properties published in CMH-17. This material is intended for use in laminate applications with a service temperature up to 180 °F. They are typically used in structural applications requiring high strength and stiffness.

The purpose of this specification is to allow procurement of a defined material corresponding to statistically derived material properties published in CMH-17. This material is intended for use in laminate applications with a service temperature up to 180 °F. They are typically used in structural applications requiring high strength and stiffness. This is the base specification and it will have three slash/detail specs.

The purpose of this specification is to allow procurement of a defined material corresponding to statistically derived material properties published in CMH-17. These materials are designed specifically for vacuum bag autoclave cure. These materials are intended for use in laminate applications with a service temperature up to 180 °F. They are typically used in structural applications requiring high strength and stiffness. This is the base specification and it will have two slash/detail specs.

The purpose of this specification is to allow procurement of a defined material corresponding to statistically derived material properties published in CMH-17. These materials are designed specifically for vacuum bag autoclave cure. These materials are intended for use in laminate applications with a service temperature up to 180 °F. They are typically used in structural applications requiring high strength and stiffness.