Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-94fs2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-14T05:39:14.268Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Damage tolerant cork based composites for aerospace applications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 January 2016

J. M. Silva ,
C. Z. Nunes ,
N. Franco  and
P. V. Gamboa
J. M. Silva*
Affiliation:
Department of Aerospace Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
C. Z. Nunes
Affiliation:
Department of Aerospace Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
N. Franco
Affiliation:
Department of Aerospace Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
P. V. Gamboa
Affiliation:
Department of Aerospace Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
*
jmas@ubi.pt
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This work aims at improving the resilience and damage tolerant properties of CFRP by using cork, which is a natural material with good energy absorption capacity and thermal insulating and vibration damping characteristics. Two types of materials were considered: a sandwich formed by carbon-epoxy facesheets with a cork-epoxy core and a carbon-epoxy laminate with embedded cork granulates. The damage tolerant properties were evaluated by low velocity impact tests according to the type of material. Additionally, this work intends to evaluate the feasibility of using a cork agglomerate combined with CFRP in a sandwich configuration in order to improve the aeroelastic properties of certain types of aerospace components aiming at preventing the occurrence of damage due to flutter. A computational analysis was used to determine the critical flutter speed of a cork based sandwich plate and other conventional materials, such as aluminium alloy and CFRP.

Results are clear about the benefits of using cork based composites either by improving the damage tolerant properties under impact loading or by extending the flight envelope without weight penalty by increasing the flutter critical speed.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 115 , Issue 1171 , September 2011 , pp. 567 - 575
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 2011 

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. Baker, A., Dutton, S. and Kelly, D. (Eds), Composite Materials for Aircraft Structures, AIAA, Reston, USA, 2004.Google Scholar
2. Richardson, M.O.W. and Wisheart, M.J. Review of low-velocity impact properties of composite materials, Composites Part A 1996, 27A, pp 1123–1131.Google Scholar
3. Nigam, V., Setua, D.K. and Mathur, G.N. Failure analysis of rubber toughened epoxy resin, J Applied Polymer Science, 2003, 87, pp 861–868.Google Scholar
4. Ruksakulpiwat, Y., Sridee, J., Suppakarn, N. and Sutapun, W. Improvement of impact property of natural fiber–polypropylene composite by using natural rubber and EPDM rubber, Composites: Part B, 2009, 40, pp 619–622.Google Scholar
5. Hedrick, J.C., Niranjan, M.P. and McGrath, J.E. Toughening of epoxy resin networks with functionalized engineering thermoplastics, Advances in Chemistry, 1993, 208, pp 293–304.Google Scholar
6. Gil, L. Cork composites: a review, Materials, 2009, 2, pp 776–789.Google Scholar
7. Silva, S.P., Sabino, M.A., Fernandes, E.M., Correlo, V.M., Boesel, L.F. and Reis, R.L. Cork: properties, capabilities and applications, International Materials Reviews, 2005, 50, (6), pp 345–365.Google Scholar
8. Petit, S., Bouvet, C., Bergerot, A. and Barrau, J-J. Impact and compression after impact experimental study of a composite laminate with a cork thermal shield, Composites Science and Technology, 2007, 67, pp 3286–3299.Google Scholar
9. Vinson, J.R. The Behaviour of Sandwich Structures of Isotropic and Composite Materials, Technomic Publishing Co Inc., Lancaster, USA, 1999.Google Scholar
10. Zenkert, D. The Handbook of Sandwich Construction, North European Engineering and Science Conference Series, EMAS Publishing, Cradley Heath, 1997.Google Scholar
11. Silva, J.M., Devezas, T., Silva, A., Gil, L., Nunes, C. and Franco, N., Exploring the use of cork based composites for aerospace applications, Materiais 2009, 5th International Materials Symposium – Recent Advances in Characterization, Processing, Design and Modelling of Structural and Functional Materials, SPM, IST – Lisbon, Portugal, 5-8 April 2009.Google Scholar
12. Castro, O, Silva, J.M., Devezas, T., Silva, A. and Gil., L. Cork agglomerates as an ideal core material in lightweight structures, Materials and Design, 2010, 31, pp 425–432.Google Scholar
13. ASTM C393/C393M–06, Standard Test Method for Core Shear Properties of Sandwich Constructions by Beam Flexure, Book of Standards, 15.03, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, 2006.Google Scholar
14. ASTM D7136/D 7136M-07, Standard Test Method for Measuring the Damage Resistance of a Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composite to a Drop-Weight Impact Event, Book of Standards, Volume 15.03, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, 2007.Google Scholar
15. Astm International D790-03, Standard Test Methods for Flexural Properties of Unreinforced and Reinforced Plastics and Electrical Insulating Materials, Book of Standards, Volume 8.01, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, 2003.Google Scholar
16. Zona Technology Inc., ZAERO Applications Manual Version 4.1, Zona Technology Inc., Scottsdale, USA, 2000.Google Scholar
17. Rodden, W.P. and Johnson, E.H., MSC NASTRAN Aeroelastic Analysis User’s Guide v68, MSC Software Corporation, Santa Ana, USA, 2004.Google Scholar