Recent Developments in FML/Aluminium Bonded Structures
René Alderliesten1, Rinze Benedictus1
1 Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
Recently, Fibre Metal Laminates have been considered as reinforcement concept for aluminium structures [1], because of their excellent fatigue and damage tolerance characteristics. These concepts require the development of assessment strategies to demonstrate compliance with fatigue and damage tolerance requirements. In particular, the significant load transfer between relatively thick aluminium and the FML over the adhesively bonded interface requires reliable assessment methodologies.
In the past decade, Delft University of Technology has made a tremendous step in fundamental understanding of the damage mechanics in FMLs [2]. To further develop the technology to reinforcement concepts, these theories and prediction methods have been developed further to describe the fatigue damage progression within and eventually failure of the aluminium, the adhesive interface, and the FML [3,4].
The developed methods will be presented and explained, and illustrations are given how these prediction methods enable further optimization of the FML reinforcement concepts.
[1] Plokker, M., Daverschot, D., Beumler, Th. (2009), Hybrid Structure solution for the A400M wing attachment frames, Proceedings of the 25th Symposium of the International Committee on Aeronautical Fatigue, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
[2] Wilson, G.S. (2013), Fatigue Crack Growth Prediction for generalized fiber metal laminates and hybrid materials, PhD dissertation, Delft University of technology.
[3] Spronk, S.W.F. (2013), Predicting fatigue crack initiation and propagation in Glare reinforced frames, MSc thesis, Delft University of Technology.
[4] Linden, A. van der (2015), Residual Strength of a FML reinforced frame member, MSc thesis, Delft University of Technology.