www.ijraset.com Volume 5 Issue II, February 2017
IC Value: 45.98 ISSN: 2321-9653
International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering
Technology (IJRASET)
Advanced Composite Materials of the Future in
Aerospace Engineering
G. Kamali 1, N. Ashokkumar 2, K. Sugash3 ,V. Magesh4
1,2,3,4
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Varuvan Vadivelan Institute of Technology, Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu, India.
Abstract:Though there is a tremendous progress in the discipline of material science and engineering,still remains technological
challenges, including the development of even more sophisticated and specialized materials such as composite materials.
Selection of material is a very critical issue when it comes to Aerospace Engineering. Now-a-days, composites are becoming
increasingly important in the Aerospace industry because of its increased strength at lower weights, corrosion resistance,
stiffness etc. This paper examines the advantages and disadvantages of using composite materials in airframe manufacturee and
also reviews the advanced development in composites as structuralal materials. A continuing trend in development of composite
materials and production of materials to either improve physical properties or to allow their application in new areas and roles
for further usage in the future.
Keywords: composite materials, Aerospace materials, strength to weight ratio, future composites
I. INTRODUCTION
Since Orville and Wilbur Wright first decided to power their flyer, cast aluminum engine is used to meet the specific requirements
for power to weight ratio, due to weight constraints of Aluminium, new materials have been necessary to improve and advance
aviation.[6] Over the years, research in material science has geared up with new innovative materials. Especially the new materials
have more capabilities towards thermal and chemical resistance with application of producing light weight structures.[3]
Planes have traditionally been made out of metals- usually aluminum and its alloys, steel and titanium alloys. Since the need raised
for highly effective and efficient material which should also have concerned with the ecology-concerned world of finite resources
has made advanced composites to be one of the most important materials in the high technology revolution in the world today. The
increased availability of these light, stiff and strong material has made it possible to achieve a number of milestone in Aerospace
industry.[2]
Composite materials are more resistant to fatigue from repeated take-off/landing cycles than any other materials like metals,
resulting in less cost over the aircraft’s lifespan and more time spent in the air making money. One great innovation in the field of
composite materials for Aerospace Industry is the ability to produce complex parts in one piece, which will reduce the
manufacturing costs.
The latest generation of airliners, such as the airbus A380 and Boeing 787 Dream liner used composite materials for structural parts.
Airbus A380, the world’s largest passenger aircraft, shows that composite materials have been employed extensively as a primary
load carrying structure and sme parts like wings, which helps to enable a 17% lower fuel use per passenger than other comparable
aircraft whereas the newest Boeing, the 787 Dream liner, has the highest content of composites as 50%.[5]
A. What are Composites
The materials can be classified into the following categories as: Metals, Polymers, Ceramics and inorganic glasses and Composites.
Metals lose their strength at very high temperatures. High-polymeric materials in general can withstand their strength only at lower
temperatures. Ceramics outstrip metals and polymers have ability to withstand high temperatures, but due to their brittleness they
cannot used as structural materials since fracture occurs suddenly. This lead to the explanation of composites. [4] A “composite” is
made when two or more different materials are combined together to create a superior and unique material. Composite material
consists of strong carry-load materials which are embedded in a weaker material. The stronger material is commonly referred as
reinforcement and the weaker material is referred as matrix. The two metals works together to give the composites unique
properties. However, within the composites the material do not dissolve or blend into each other. [5] The reinforcement provides the
strength and rigidity which helps to support the structural load. The matrix or the binder helps to maintain the position and
orientation of the reinforcement and is somewhat more brittle. The reinforcement materials such as Fibers are thin and but integrity
is not maintained. In matrix materials, strength values are less and hence fibers or matrix alone cannot find its application as a
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©IJRASET: All Rights are Reserved
https://www.coursehero.com/file/37200059/Advanced-Composite-Materials-of-the-Future-in-Aerospace-
, www.ijraset.co Volume 5 Issue II, February
m IC Value: 2017
International Journal for Research in Applied Science &
Engineering Technology (IJRASET)
structural material but when these two materials are combined we get a composite materials which is light weight, stiff, strong and
tough.[2]
B. Natural Composites
Wood: It is made from long cellulose fibers (a polymer) which held together by a much weaker substance called lignin. The
cellulose and lignin together form a stronger one called wood.
Bone: It is made from a hard and brittle material called hydroxyl apatite (which is mainly calcium phosphate) and combined with a
soft and flexible material called collagen (which is protein)
C. Early Composites
People have been making composites for many thousands of years.
Bricks: It is made from mud and straw. Mud can be dried out into a brick shape to give a building material. It has good compressible
strength but it breaks quite easily when tensile load is applied. Straw is very strong when it is stretched, but you can crumple it up
easily. By mixing mud and straw together, bricks can be made which is resistant to both squeezing and tearing and make more
excellent building blocks
Concrete: It is a mix of aggregate (small stones or gravel), cement and sand. It has good compression strength (it resists squashing).
In recent times, it has been found that adding metal rods or wires to the concrete can increase its tensile (bending) strength. Concrete
containing such rods or wires is called reinforced concrete.
D. Classification of Composites
Fiber glass is made from a reinforcement material as glass that has been made into fine threads and often woven into a sort of cloth
and the matrix is plastic. Glass is very strong but the nature of glass is brittle and it will break if bent sharply. The plastic matrix
holds the glass fibers together and also protects them from damage by shear forces acting on them when bending.
Some advanced composites are now made using carbon fibers instead of glass. Carbon fibres materials are lighter and stronger than
fiberglass but more expensive to produce. They are used in aircraft structures and expensive sports equipment such as golf clubs.
Carbon nano -tubes are even lighter and stronger than composites made with ordinary carbon fibers but they are still extremely
expensive. It is used for making light cars and aircraft (which will use less fuel than the heavier vehicles)
E. Why are Composites
The important advantages of modern composites materials are light and as well as strong. By choosing an appropriate combination
of matrix and reinforcement material, a new material can be made which is able to meet the requirements of a particular application.
A composite also provides flexibility so these materials can be molded into complex shapes. The drawback is often the cost.
Although the resulting product is more efficient, the raw materials are often expensive.
F. Why Composites in Aerospace
Composite materials are important to the Aerospace Industry because they provide structural strength at lower weights comparable
to other materials. This leads to less usage of fuel and thereby improved fuel efficiency and performance from an aircraft.
G. The Role of Composites in Aerospace Industry
Figure1The Role of Composites in Aerospace industry
H. Commercial Aircraft
Boeing 787 Dream liner
The Boeing 757 and 767 employ about 3000 pounds each of composites for doors and control surfaces. Boeing’s 787 Dream liners
This study source was downloaded by 100000856941565 from CourseHero.com on 12-03-2022 17:18:55 GMT -06:00 611
©IJRASET: All Rights are Reserved
https://www.coursehero.com/file/37200059/Advanced-Composite-Materials-of-the-Future-in-Aerospace-
IC Value: 45.98 ISSN: 2321-9653
International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering
Technology (IJRASET)
Advanced Composite Materials of the Future in
Aerospace Engineering
G. Kamali 1, N. Ashokkumar 2, K. Sugash3 ,V. Magesh4
1,2,3,4
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Varuvan Vadivelan Institute of Technology, Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu, India.
Abstract:Though there is a tremendous progress in the discipline of material science and engineering,still remains technological
challenges, including the development of even more sophisticated and specialized materials such as composite materials.
Selection of material is a very critical issue when it comes to Aerospace Engineering. Now-a-days, composites are becoming
increasingly important in the Aerospace industry because of its increased strength at lower weights, corrosion resistance,
stiffness etc. This paper examines the advantages and disadvantages of using composite materials in airframe manufacturee and
also reviews the advanced development in composites as structuralal materials. A continuing trend in development of composite
materials and production of materials to either improve physical properties or to allow their application in new areas and roles
for further usage in the future.
Keywords: composite materials, Aerospace materials, strength to weight ratio, future composites
I. INTRODUCTION
Since Orville and Wilbur Wright first decided to power their flyer, cast aluminum engine is used to meet the specific requirements
for power to weight ratio, due to weight constraints of Aluminium, new materials have been necessary to improve and advance
aviation.[6] Over the years, research in material science has geared up with new innovative materials. Especially the new materials
have more capabilities towards thermal and chemical resistance with application of producing light weight structures.[3]
Planes have traditionally been made out of metals- usually aluminum and its alloys, steel and titanium alloys. Since the need raised
for highly effective and efficient material which should also have concerned with the ecology-concerned world of finite resources
has made advanced composites to be one of the most important materials in the high technology revolution in the world today. The
increased availability of these light, stiff and strong material has made it possible to achieve a number of milestone in Aerospace
industry.[2]
Composite materials are more resistant to fatigue from repeated take-off/landing cycles than any other materials like metals,
resulting in less cost over the aircraft’s lifespan and more time spent in the air making money. One great innovation in the field of
composite materials for Aerospace Industry is the ability to produce complex parts in one piece, which will reduce the
manufacturing costs.
The latest generation of airliners, such as the airbus A380 and Boeing 787 Dream liner used composite materials for structural parts.
Airbus A380, the world’s largest passenger aircraft, shows that composite materials have been employed extensively as a primary
load carrying structure and sme parts like wings, which helps to enable a 17% lower fuel use per passenger than other comparable
aircraft whereas the newest Boeing, the 787 Dream liner, has the highest content of composites as 50%.[5]
A. What are Composites
The materials can be classified into the following categories as: Metals, Polymers, Ceramics and inorganic glasses and Composites.
Metals lose their strength at very high temperatures. High-polymeric materials in general can withstand their strength only at lower
temperatures. Ceramics outstrip metals and polymers have ability to withstand high temperatures, but due to their brittleness they
cannot used as structural materials since fracture occurs suddenly. This lead to the explanation of composites. [4] A “composite” is
made when two or more different materials are combined together to create a superior and unique material. Composite material
consists of strong carry-load materials which are embedded in a weaker material. The stronger material is commonly referred as
reinforcement and the weaker material is referred as matrix. The two metals works together to give the composites unique
properties. However, within the composites the material do not dissolve or blend into each other. [5] The reinforcement provides the
strength and rigidity which helps to support the structural load. The matrix or the binder helps to maintain the position and
orientation of the reinforcement and is somewhat more brittle. The reinforcement materials such as Fibers are thin and but integrity
is not maintained. In matrix materials, strength values are less and hence fibers or matrix alone cannot find its application as a
This study source was downloaded by 100000856941565 from CourseHero.com on 12-03-2022 17:18:55 GMT -06:00 61
©IJRASET: All Rights are Reserved
https://www.coursehero.com/file/37200059/Advanced-Composite-Materials-of-the-Future-in-Aerospace-
, www.ijraset.co Volume 5 Issue II, February
m IC Value: 2017
International Journal for Research in Applied Science &
Engineering Technology (IJRASET)
structural material but when these two materials are combined we get a composite materials which is light weight, stiff, strong and
tough.[2]
B. Natural Composites
Wood: It is made from long cellulose fibers (a polymer) which held together by a much weaker substance called lignin. The
cellulose and lignin together form a stronger one called wood.
Bone: It is made from a hard and brittle material called hydroxyl apatite (which is mainly calcium phosphate) and combined with a
soft and flexible material called collagen (which is protein)
C. Early Composites
People have been making composites for many thousands of years.
Bricks: It is made from mud and straw. Mud can be dried out into a brick shape to give a building material. It has good compressible
strength but it breaks quite easily when tensile load is applied. Straw is very strong when it is stretched, but you can crumple it up
easily. By mixing mud and straw together, bricks can be made which is resistant to both squeezing and tearing and make more
excellent building blocks
Concrete: It is a mix of aggregate (small stones or gravel), cement and sand. It has good compression strength (it resists squashing).
In recent times, it has been found that adding metal rods or wires to the concrete can increase its tensile (bending) strength. Concrete
containing such rods or wires is called reinforced concrete.
D. Classification of Composites
Fiber glass is made from a reinforcement material as glass that has been made into fine threads and often woven into a sort of cloth
and the matrix is plastic. Glass is very strong but the nature of glass is brittle and it will break if bent sharply. The plastic matrix
holds the glass fibers together and also protects them from damage by shear forces acting on them when bending.
Some advanced composites are now made using carbon fibers instead of glass. Carbon fibres materials are lighter and stronger than
fiberglass but more expensive to produce. They are used in aircraft structures and expensive sports equipment such as golf clubs.
Carbon nano -tubes are even lighter and stronger than composites made with ordinary carbon fibers but they are still extremely
expensive. It is used for making light cars and aircraft (which will use less fuel than the heavier vehicles)
E. Why are Composites
The important advantages of modern composites materials are light and as well as strong. By choosing an appropriate combination
of matrix and reinforcement material, a new material can be made which is able to meet the requirements of a particular application.
A composite also provides flexibility so these materials can be molded into complex shapes. The drawback is often the cost.
Although the resulting product is more efficient, the raw materials are often expensive.
F. Why Composites in Aerospace
Composite materials are important to the Aerospace Industry because they provide structural strength at lower weights comparable
to other materials. This leads to less usage of fuel and thereby improved fuel efficiency and performance from an aircraft.
G. The Role of Composites in Aerospace Industry
Figure1The Role of Composites in Aerospace industry
H. Commercial Aircraft
Boeing 787 Dream liner
The Boeing 757 and 767 employ about 3000 pounds each of composites for doors and control surfaces. Boeing’s 787 Dream liners
This study source was downloaded by 100000856941565 from CourseHero.com on 12-03-2022 17:18:55 GMT -06:00 611
©IJRASET: All Rights are Reserved
https://www.coursehero.com/file/37200059/Advanced-Composite-Materials-of-the-Future-in-Aerospace-
