Carbon Fibers
Performance requirements: CAI vs. OHC
John Russell, who manages nonautoclave research programs for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio), recently threw down the gauntlet at the Fall SAMPE conference in Salt Lake City, Utah: “Give us a 25 percent improvement in notch properties with no microcracking in high-modulus fibers.” While OOA prepreg suppliers can’t do much about fiber microcracking, Advanced Composites Group (ACG, Tulsa, Okla.) already has announced that its XMTM47 material will be commercial by next year, designed for 120°C/248°F service with the increased notched performance requested.
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GKN A350 spar program update
Automated fiber placement to replace established tape laying/drape forming process for the composite rear spars on the new midsize commercial passenger jet.
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Drag racing champ wins with composite rear wing
A composite rear wing assembly built by Aerodine Composites Group (Indianapolis, Ind.) was critical to 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series champion Larry Dixon’s effort at the wheel of the Al-Anabi Top Fuel dragster.
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CFRP upgrades economy seating
First aircraft seat to use visible CFRP revolutionizes aesthetics and comfort.
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Learjet 85 composite pressurized cabin a cost cutter
Single-piece carbon fiber composite structure selected over multipiece aluminum fuselage barrel section in new bizjet design.
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Future combat helmet: Promising prototype
Tape laying, thermoforming methods hold hope for rapid coforming of thermoplastic shell and ballistic liner for U.S. Army’s future warfighter headgear.
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Besting Big Ben: A Marvel in Makkah
Composite design makes possible the world’s largest clock and tallest clock tower.
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Structural armor or armored structures?
Either way, antiballistics engineers seek structural integrity and ballistic deterrence from a single design.
Read MoreBuilding on CCM lessons learned
Knowledge gained during NASA's composite crew module (CCM) program, a sidelight to the Orion space capsule program, now benefits private space efforts.
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