Impact Energy Absorbing Surface Layers for Protection of Composite Aircraft211 Structures

摘要

In the framework of a European Defense Research Program the NLR investigated how211u001ethe tolerance behavior of carbon/epoxy composite aircraft structures can be 211u001eimproved by application of impact energy absorbing surface layers. A promising 211u001econcept of protection layers consist of a layer of an adhesive filled with glass 211u001emicroballoons covered with one or more layers of aluminum gauze. In an 211u001eexperimental test program on unprotected and protected stiffened compression 211u001epanels it was proved that surface layers may prevent impact damage in the 211u001ecomposite panel for impact energies up to 60 Joule. As compared to an unprotected 211u001ecomponent the compression failure load was increased by approximately 40 T. This 211u001ebenefit has to be set off against a weight penalty of 26%.