Clemens Bockenheimer

Extended Non-Destructive Testing of Composite Bonds

Although composite materials are already used in the manufacturing of structural components in the aeronautics industry, an optimised light-weight design for CFRP primary structures cannot be deployed due to the lack of adequate quality assurance procedures for adhesive bonding. The successful implementation of a reliable quality assurance concept will provide the basis for increased use of light-weight composite materials for highly integrated structures. The expected weight savings for the fuselage airframe are up to 15%. The resulting reduction of fuel consumption and hence CO2 emissions will present a major step towards the greening of air transport.

Non-destructive evaluation (NDE) of aerospace composites: methods for testing adhesively bonded composites

Abstract: This chapter aims to establish the state-of-the-art with regard to non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques of adhesively bonded composite materials, with a special focus on the aerospace industry, and composite substrates. Typical material defects, as well as quality management through NDT methods throughout the product life cycle, are introduced. A complete overview of existing NDT techniques is given, followed by a description of limitations in terms of bond performance assessment. Recent concepts and nascent developments (‘Extended NDT’) for the future are explored.

Structural health monitoring (SHM) needs S3 (sensor-structure-system) logic for efficient product development

At present time a variety of Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) technologies for monolithic and sandwich composite structures exist. In general, all these technologies have in common that None-Destructive-Testing (NDT) sensing systems - comprising sensor, cabling and connector - are being combined with structural elements. These combinations of systems with structures lead to multi-variables optimisation problems and resulting conflicts. In order to develop a globally optimised solution for the integration of a sensing system in a structure for a given SHM use case, the S³ logic considers the aspects of sensor, structure and process. Therefore, the S³ logic enables a multi-disciplinary system development in a pragmatic way. This paper focuses on the application of the S³ logic during manufacturing.

Outline of Overall Aircraft Imposed Requirements on Airframe Enhancements by Nanotechnologies and Resulting Opportunities

Ongoing development efforts in all stages of technological readiness have encouraged this paper which aims at outlining the predominant requirements which an aircraft structure does and will pose to new and emerging technologies. Particular emphasis is placed on the vast field of nanotechnologies. By outlining the broad requirements of an aircraft structure on new technologies, example studies and public long term scenarios, this paper aims at providing a broad guide to potential, new applications of micro-and nano-technology for structural aircraft applications.Copyright