ENVIRONMENTAL FATIGUE CRACK PROPAGATION IN METAL/COMPOSITE LAMINATES |
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| Authors: | R. J. H. WANHILL |
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| Affiliation: | National Aerospace Laboratory, P.O. Box 90502, 1006 BM, Amsterdam, The Netherlands |
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| Abstract: | Abstract— Flight simulation fatigue crack propagation tests with gust spectrum loading were carried out on laminates of (i) aluminium alloy 2024-T3/carbon epoxy, (ii) aluminium alloy 7475-T761/carbon-epoxy and (iii) titanium alloy Ti–6Al–4V/carbon-epoxy, each with a nominal weight saving of 30% as compared to equivalent 2024-T3 panels. The performance of the 2024-T3/carbon-epoxy laminates was much superior to those of the other material combinations. Overall, there was a fairly strong effect of changing from an environment of normal air to an air plus water spray environment. Probable reasons for this strong effect are discussed. |
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