Ingenieur Vol 80 ingenieur 2019 octoberfinal | Page 26

INGENIEUR Advanced Composites Application in the Aerospace Industry By Mohamad Faruqi Nazri Learning & Development Director Nadi Aero Consultants Sdn Bhd Figure 1: Composites comprised of two or more materials that formed a new material A erospace engineering has experienced a huge evolution in material sciences with many technological challenges in terms of the development of specialised materials, e.g., composite materials since the first flight by the Wright brothers in the early 1900s. Nowadays, composite materials are crucial in aerospace engineering due to their strength at a lower weight, stiffness and corrosion resistant properties. This article gives an insight into composite materials used in aircraft structure and reviews advanced composites as structural materials. Progressive development allows for their application in new areas in the future. Composites can be defined as materials that are made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties that when combined, produce a material with characteristics different from the individual components. The individual components 6 24 VOL 2019 VOL 80 55 OCTOBER-DECEMBER JUNE 2013 remain separate and distinct within the finished structure, which differentiates composites from mixtures and solid solutions. Composite materials are capable of providing a better strength-to-weight ratio than single structure materials: sometimes by up to a 20% improvement. Less weight means lower fuel consumption, emissions and costs, and due to plastic structures requiring fewer riveted joints, enhanced aerodynamic efficiencies and reduced manufacturing costs. The aviation industry was naturally attracted by such benefits when composites first appeared, but it was the manufacturers of military aircraft who initially seized the opportunity to exploit their use to improve the speed and manoeuvrability of their products. Weight is everything when it comes to heavier than air machines, and designers have striven continuously to improve lift to weight ratios since