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Towards application of fibre metal laminates in large aircraft

A. Vlot (Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands.)
L.B. Vogelesang (Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands.)
T.J. de Vries (Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands.)

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology

ISSN: 0002-2667

Article publication date: 1 December 1999

5982

Abstract

Fibre metal laminates were developed at Delft University during the last two decades as a family of new hybrid materials consisting of bonded thin metal sheets and fibre/adhesive layers. This laminated structure provides the material with excellent fatigue, impact and damage tolerance characteristics and a low density. While the 20 per cent weight reduction was the prime driver behind the development of this new family of materials, it turns out that additional benefits like cost reduction and an improved safety level have become more and more important. The combination of these aspects in one material makes fibre metal laminates a strong candidate material for fuselage skin structures of the new generation of high capacity aircraft. The focus on this application currently leads to industrialization and qualification that makes this material available to the aircraft designer.

Keywords

Citation

Vlot, A., Vogelesang, L.B. and de Vries, T.J. (1999), "Towards application of fibre metal laminates in large aircraft", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 71 No. 6, pp. 558-570. https://doi.org/10.1108/00022669910303711

Publisher

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MCB UP Ltd

Copyright © 1999, MCB UP Limited

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