Composite Materials for Aircraft Structures

Composite materials are a combination of two or more constituent materials that have a unique set of properties. They are versatile in nature and are widely used in aircrafts and spacecrafts, hot air balloon gondolas, gliders, passenger airliners, fighter planes and space shuttles. The application of high-performance composite materials in aircraft structures offers many advantages such as weight reduction, low specific heat, high thermal stability, high impact resistance, and high damage tolerance that improves accident survivability. There are three main types of composite materials having different mechanical properties. These include carbon fiber, glass, and aramid-reinforced epoxy. Carbon fiber is the most widely used composite fiber in aerospace applications. The structural applications of composite materials range from complete airplanes such as the Beech Starship to wing assemblies, helicopter rotor blades, propellers, seats, and instrument enclosures. This book is a vital tool for all researching or studying the applications of composite materials for the construction of aircraft structures. It will provide incredible insights to readers with respect to emerging trends and concepts in this area of study.