Structural aerospace composite/metallic samples under fatigue loads: experimental activity on three case studies

The use of composite materials in aerospace engineering is ever increasing. Properties such as low weight, high performance, high stiffness and the ability for it to be tailored specifically for different structural uses has increased its importance in recent years. Specific experimental/numerical activities were developed in the last decade at the Aerospace Department of POLITO and are under consideration in recent years regarding the analysis of fatigue behavior of composite/metallic structural samples under cyclic loading condition. A review of the main significant results connected to three case-studies are presented in the paper. The first is related to the definition and analysis of innovative joint for composite high aspect ratio aircraft structures. The modular design oriented to limit component dimensions for transportability requires the presence of a removable joints able to overcome the typical low bearing failure level of composite pin-loaded joint under static and fatigue loading distribution according to airworthiness requirements. The second is related to the presence of specific damaged situation in thin-walled flat/stiffened composite plate. Stiffened configurations are frequently used to increase buckling load level. Unexpected events on solid/stiffened composite panels can introduce a certain level of damage, typically delamination, that can cause reduction in buckling design level and reduction in global strength. The presence of cyclic load and fatigue effect can have an important consequence on damage propagation and structural integrity. The third is related to preliminary investigation on the effect of fatigue life reduction of 2024 Al alloy in corrosive (exfoliation) environment. The effect of corrosion is taken into consideration introducing specific concentration factors into the life estimation relationship. Differences between fatigue in prior corroded specimens and fatigue in presence of corrosive environment are emphasized. No crack propagation is considered. Related concentration factors are derived and compared by the few experimental results in order to define some guidelines for design process and to improve aircraft better evaluation of component structural integrity in operative situation

Structural Aerospace Composite/Metallic Samples under Fatigue Loads: Experimental Activity on Three Case Studies

The use of composite materials in aerospace engineering is ever increasing. Properties such as low weight, high performance, high stiffness and the ability for it to be tailored specifically for different structural uses has increased its importance in recent years. Specific experimental/numerical activities were developed in the last decade at the Aerospace Department of POLITO and are under consideration in recent years regarding the analysis of fatigue behavior of composite/metallic structural samples under cyclic loading condition. A review of the main significant results connected to three case-studies are presented in the paper. The first is related to the definition and analysis of innovative joint for composite high aspect ratio aircraft structures. The modular design oriented to limit component dimensions for transportability requires the presence of a removable joints able to overcome the typical low bearing failure level of composite pin-loaded joint under static and fatigue loading distribution according to airworthiness requirements. The second is related to the presence of specific damaged situation in thin-walled flat/stiffened composite plate. Stiffened configurations are frequently used to increase buckling load level. Unexpected events on solid/stiffened composite panels can introduce a certain level of damage, typically delamination, that can cause reduction in buckling design level and reduction in global strength. The presence of cyclic load and fatigue effect can have an important consequence on damage propagation and structural integrity. The third is related to preliminary investigation on the effect of fatigue life reduction of 2024 Al alloy in corrosive (exfoliation) environment. The effect of corrosion is taken into consideration introducing specific concentration factors into the life estimation relationship. Differences between fatigue in prior corroded specimens and fatigue in presence of corrosive environment are emphasized. No crack propagation is considered. Related concentration factors are derived and compared by the few experimental results in order to define some guidelines for design process and to improve aircraft better evaluation of component structural integrity in operative situations

Structural aerospace composite/metallic samples under fatigue loads: experimental activity on three case studies

The use of composite materials in aerospace engineering is ever increasing. Properties such as low weight, high performance, high stiffness and the ability for it to be tailored specifically for different structural uses has increased its importance in recent years. Specific experimental/numerical activities were developed in the last decade at the Aerospace Department of POLITO and are under consideration in recent years regarding the analysis of fatigue behavior of composite/metallic structural samples under cyclic loading condition. A review of the main significant results connected to three case-studies are presented in the paper. The first is related to the definition and analysis of innovative joint for composite high aspect ratio aircraft structures. The modular design oriented to limit component dimensions for transportability requires the presence of a removable joints able to overcome the typical low bearing failure level of composite pin-loaded joint under static and fatigue loading distribution according to airworthiness requirements. The second is related to the presence of specific damaged situation in thin-walled flat/stiffened composite plate. Stiffened configurations are frequently used to increase buckling load level. Unexpected events on solid/stiffened composite panels can introduce a certain level of damage, typically delamination, that can cause reduction in buckling design level and reduction in global strength. The presence of cyclic load and fatigue effect can have an important consequence on damage propagation and structural integrity. The third is related to preliminary investigation on the effect of fatigue life reduction of 2024 Al alloy in corrosive (exfoliation) environment. The effect of corrosion is taken into consideration introducing specific concentration factors into the life estimation relationship. Differences between fatigue in prior corroded specimens and fatigue in presence of corrosive environment are emphasized. No crack propagation is considered. Related concentration factors are derived and compared by the few experimental results in order to define some guidelines for design process and to improve aircraft better evaluation of component structural integrity in operative situations

HELIPLAT: High altitude very-long endurance Solar Powered UAV for telecommunication and earth observation applications.

Research is at present being carried out at the Turin Polytechnic University with the aim of designing an HAVE/UAV (high altitude very-long endurance/unmanned air vehicle). The vehicle should climb to 17-20km by mainly taking advantage of direct Sun radiation and thereafter maintain a level flight; during the night, a fuel cells energy storage system would be used. A computer program has been developed to carry out a parametric study for the platform design. The solar radiation change over one year, the altitude, masses and efficiencies of the solar and fuel cells, and the aerodynamic performances have all been taken into account. The parametric studies have shown how fuel cells and solar cells efficiency and mass have the most influence on the platform dimensions. A wide use of high modulus CFRP has been made in designing the structure in order to minimise the airframe weight. A first configuration of HELIPLAT® (HELIos PLATform) was worked out, following a preliminary parametric study. The platform is a monoplane with eight brushless electric motors, a twin-boom tail type with an oversized horizontal stabiliser and two rudders. The co-ordinates at the root and along the wing span as well as the wing planform were optimised to achieve the best efficiency. Several profiles and wing plans have been analysed using the CFD software Xfoil and Vsaero. Several wind-tunnel tests were carried out to compare the analytically predicted performances. A preliminary design of a scale-sized technological demonstrator was completed with the aim of manufacturing a proof-of-concept structure. A FEM analysis was carried by using the Msc/Patran/Nastran code to predict the static and dynamic behaviour of the UAV structure

Materiali compositi grafite/epoxy per strutture ad alta stabilità dimensionale impiegati nel programma spaziale SOHO-UVCS. Prove di flessione di ovalizzazione e del coefficiente di espansione igroscopica (CME)del materiale M55J/M18

TN n.9

" Qualification Activity of CFRP Tubes and Struts for the SAX Satellite Space Program; CME and CTE results (Attività di qualificazione di tubi e montanti in fibra di carbonio nell'ambito del programma SAX. Risultati delle prove di espansione igroscopica (CME) e Termica (CTE)".

TN n.10