Take-off and Landing Using Ground Based Power - Landing Simulations Using Multibody Dynamics

A novel take-off and landing system using ground based power is proposed in the EUFP7 project GABRIEL. The proposed system has the potential benefit to reduce aircraft weight, emissions and noise. A preliminary investigation of the feasibility of the structural design of the connection mechanism between aircraft and ground system has been...

Unravelling the corrosion protection mechanism of silyl ester by combined electrochemistry and x-ray computed tomography

Recently, encapsulated silyl esters have been shown to act as efficient healing agents for self-healing anticorrosive coatings. While the positive protective effects were irrefutable, the actual protection mechanism has not been clarified yet. In this study, x-ray computed ?-tomography and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy have been...

Compartemented fibres: The concept of multiple self-healing in advanced fibre composites

Polymers reinforced with high performance fibres are successfully replacing metal alloys in lightweight aircraft structures. A critical factor in structural design is the resistance of a structure to progressive damage which develops during its service time. The brittle nature of matrix cracking is the main source of composite failure initiating...

Glacial isostatic adjustment model with composite 3-D Earth rheology for Fennoscandia

Models for glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) can provide constraints on rheology of the mantle if past ice thickness variations are assumed to be known. The Pleistocene ice loading histories that are used to obtain such constraints are based on an a priori 1-D mantle viscosity profile that assumes a single deformation mechanism for mantle rocks...

Dielectrophoretically structured piezoelectric composites with high aspect ratio piezoelectric particles inclusions

Piezoelectric composites were prepared by dielectrophoretic alignment of high aspect ratio piezoelectric particles in a thermosetting polymer matrix. A high level of alignment was achieved in the cured composite from a resin containing randomly oriented high aspect ratio particles. Upon application of an electric field during curing of the resin...

Analysis of the fractal dimension of grain boundaries of AA7050 aluminum alloys and its relationship to fracture toughness

Quantitative analysis of the grain boundaries in partially recrystallized microstructures of heat-treated 7050 aluminum alloys has been performed. Fractal dimensions of the extracted grain boundaries were calculated by boxcounting method. Five different types of tear-tested materials rolled in different processes each at two orientations of 0º...

magnet assisted take-off; an innovative way of taking to the skies

Tuning the stress induced martensitic formation in titanium alloys by alloy design

Accuracy of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame origin and Earth expansion

The International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) is a fundamental datum for high?precision orbit tracking, navigation, and global change monitoring. Accurately realizing and maintaining ITRF origin at the mean Earth system center of mass (CM) is critical to surface and spacecraft based geodetic measurements including those of sea level rise...

Thermal and structural performance of tow-placed, variable stiffness panels

The structural response of two variable stiffness composite panels under thermal and mechanical loads are characterized using experiments and analyses. These panels are advanced composite structures where the fiber angle varies continuously within each ply, and are manufactured using an advanced tow placement system. Both variable stiffness...