Practical Use of Composite Materials Used in Military Aircraft

Area of Science:

• Materials Science and Engineering
• Aerospace Engineering
• Structural Analysis

Background:

• Modern aircraft increasingly utilize advanced composites and light metals for airframe structures.
• Understanding the distinct properties of isotropic metals and anisotropic composites is crucial for aircraft design.
• Key aircraft like the Airbus A-380, Boeing B-787, and JSF F-35 exemplify the integration of these materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comparatively characterize structural materials (composites and metals) in modern aviation.
• To analyze design and operational challenges, emphasizing composites and aluminum alloys.
• To highlight differences in material construction and modeling due to isotropy and anisotropy.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of structural materials (composites vs. metals).
• Application of Shore's method for strength result analysis.
• Simulation of GLARE composite using ANSYS and SolidWorks.
• Finite Element Analysis (FEM) on aluminum alloy and fiberglass composite samples.
• Analysis of material destruction mechanics and structural behavior (displacements, stresses, deformations).

Main Results:

• Demonstrated differences in the mechanical behavior and modeling of isotropic metals versus anisotropic composites.
• Identified distinct failure mechanisms in metals compared to composite materials.
• Quantified performance variations in terms of displacements, stresses, and deformations between material types.
• Selected the preferred material variant based on simulation and test results.

Conclusions:

• The study provides a comparative assessment of aviation structural materials, highlighting key differences between composites and metals.
• Findings offer practical insights for material selection and structural design in aerospace applications.
• The research underscores the importance of considering material anisotropy in advanced aircraft component modeling.