I've been watching a very interesting 3 part BBC documentary lately, City in the Sky, you may have seen or heard of it, if not, then i thoroughly recommend it ! Especially last weeks episode, Airborne, did you know that 100,000 flights per day criss-cross the globe & that is set to double in 20yrs, by 2034 they expect 44,000 passenger jets alone crowding the sky's.
That's a lot of Carbon fiber reinforced polymer
Carbon fiber reinforced polymer, carbon fiber reinforced plastic or carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic (CFRP, CRP, CFRTP or often simply carbon fiber, or even carbon), is an extremely strong and light fiber-reinforced plastic which contains carbon fibers. The spelling 'fibre' is common in British Commonwealth countries.
CFRPs can be expensive to produce but are commonly used wherever high strength-to-weight ratio and rigidity are required, such as aerospace, automotive, civil engineering, sports goods and an increasing number of other consumer and technical applications.
Common composite materials used on airplanes include fiberglass, carbon fiber and fiber-reinforced matrix systems, or any combination of any of these.
According to the FAA, composite material has been around since World War II. Over the years, composite material has become more popular, and it's now used in many different airplane types, as well as gliders.
About 35 percent of the nation's aircraft structures were made of composite material in 2005. Today, aircraft structures are commonly made up of 50 to 70 percent composite material.
Boeing rolled out its new 787 Dreamliner in 2012, boasting that it was 50 percent composite material. And in 2013, the A350-XWB, which is also made of at least 50 percent composite materials, took flight. New aircraft rolling off the line today almost all incorporate some kind of composite material into their designs.
Composites continue to be used frequently in aviation due to numerous advantages. Some say that these materials pose a safety risk to aviation, though, citing a few drawbacks. Advantages
Most of the time, the use of composite materials on an aircraft structure reduces weight. Fiber-reinforced matrix systems are stronger than traditional aluminum found in most aircraft, and they provide a smooth surface and increase fuel efficiency.
Composite materials don't corrode as easily at other types of structures. They don't crack from metal fatigue and they hold up well in structural flexing environments. Composite designs also last longer than aluminum, which means fewer maintenance and repair costs.
Disadvantages
Composite materials don’t break easily, but that makes it hard to tell if the interior structure has been damaged at all.
In contrast, aluminum bends and dents easily, making its easy to detect structural damage; the same damage is much harder to detect with composite structures. Repairs can also be more difficult when a composite surface is damaged.
The resin used in composite material weakens at temperatures as low as 150 degrees, making it important for these aircraft to avoid fires. Fires involved with composite materials can release toxic fumes and micro particles into the air.
Application of textile on air
Application of Textile on Air Class Presentation 8th Semester B.tech in Department of jute & fibre technology By Ipsita MajumderRoll Number:-98/JFT/091016
Introduction The application of textiles in Air is a term used for the material used & the process of covering aircraft structures. More effort is being put into design of aircraft interiors to make them more passenger ‘friendly’. Increased safety is also being researched to make seats stronger & bulk head airbags also play a vital role in Aircraft . The main technical challenges are safety, mainly with respect to flame retardency & weight saving.
Then this, Emirates plane bursts into flames after crash-landing at Dubai airport
City in the Sky Episode 3 of 3
There are around one million people airborne at any one time. But what goes up must come down - and bringing all those people safely back to earth depends on complex global networks and astonishing technology
More Food for thought, plus something to chew on, Thoughts ?
Cheers
Frank
AJX Price at posting:
55.0¢ Sentiment: Buy Disclosure: Held
