Structural Supercapacitor: A Proof of Concept and Performance Characterisation

A structural supercapacitor (SSC) is a composite material that bears mechanical loads and stores energy, and its encapsulation method of the device is vital for scale-up. Here we present an SSC with an encapsulation interface consisting of spread-tow fabric electrodes and glass fabric encapsulators infused with epoxy resin. Through surface...

Comparison of numerical analyses of a composite wing component subjected to 4-point bending

In this paper, a comparison between six finite element models of a representative wing structural component performed in the context of Optimised Design for Inspection (ODIN) project of the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) is presented. Six partners from six different countries involved in the project received the drawing...

Patching a Fuselage: Application of Straight Fiber Variable Stiffness Laminates in Large Aerospace Structures

Straight fiber variable stiffness laminates use multiple overlapping patches to tailor the fiber orientations in particular regions of the laminate. A novel, automated framework for the design of manufacturable laminate has been developed using different stages. In the first and second stage an optimal stiffness distribution is determined using...

The effects of local fibre steering: Reducing gaps and overlaps by compensating for tow width fluctuation in automated fibre placement

The aerospace industry increasingly uses fibre-reinforced plastics that are manufactured using automated fibre placement (AFP). A common problem in AFP is the occurrence of gaps and overlaps that affect the structural perfromance of laminates. Tow width fluctuation is an important cause of gaps and overlaps. Two developments in manufacturing are...

Influence of interface ply orientation on delamination growth in composite laminates

The standard experimental procedures for determining the interlaminar fracture toughness are designed for delamination propagation in unidirectional specimens. However, in aerospace structural components, delamination usually occurs between plies at different orientations resulting in different damage mechanisms which can increase the value...

Experimental determination of fracture toughness for delamination analysis in structural components

Delamination is an important damage mechanism in composite materials. A correct prediction of its behaviour is of great importance in the design of aerospace composite structures. Nevertheless, when using simple numerical models which do not account for the delamination migrating to other interfaces or other intralaminar damage mechanisms, the...