"Composites are unique, because of the way that they are manufactured," said Shivakumar. "This unique structure makes repairing them different from repairing traditional materials, such as aluminum and steel. We will study what factors lead to the eventual breakdown of repairs and recommend ways that the repair process can be improved, to enhance the safety of aircraft."

To help them better understand the structure of composite repairs and how different environments affect their performance, A&T researchers will study defective composite components resulting either from actual use or laboratory simulations. They will also perform composite repairs according to common procedures, and then test those repairs in a variety of settings.

Once all of the data from these experiments are collected, researchers will devise a model which they believe will help the aircraft industry improve its repair processes and accurately predict the expected lifetime performance of a repair.

"Ultimately, we hope that the work we do can improve the safety of aircraft, while extending their periods of service," said Shivakumar.

The project was funded $300,000 through a subcontract with Iowa State's Center for Aviation Systems Reliability, which is funded by the Federal Aviation Administration and is a collaborator on the project.

For more information, contact Shivakumar at (336) 334-7411, ext. 2112.
 

Previous Page