ADVANCED MATERIALS IN AIRCRAFT

Bibhavendra Kumar Singh1, Dilip V. J.2, M. Sreenivasa Reddy3

& Dr. A. N. Khaleel Ahmed4

1,2
7th Sem B.E.students 3 Asst. Professor & Head, 4Professor,
Department of Mechanical Engineering, R. L. Jalappa Institute of Technology,
Doddaballapur.

Email: bibhu32@gmail.com
+919986653056
Abstract

“Advanced materials” the name itself signifies materials that are superior in
their properties, qualities, ease of use, applications from the materials that are
currently in use .Advanced material are the discoveries of the fundamental
principles and nuances of basic sciences like chemistry, physics, mathematics
and then fashioning materials for real life applications. Our project categorizes
the types of advanced materials used in various industries as well as in day to day
life. It includes memory polymers, composites, Bio-composites, Alloys and
Thermoplastics. The major application of the advanced materials are in aircraft
design field. And our project focuses on the aircraft designing industries
acceptance of advanced materials in a big way.

The concept of “Morphing” is not new to mankind .The desire to fly came to the
mind of man on seeing birds fly at their will, the swiftness, the agility they
displayed while flying. The major contribution of advanced material have been in
the development of “Morphing Wings”. We have “F-14 Tomcat”, “F/A-18A,
Hornet” making significant use of this very concept to achieve faster speeds,
greater control and so on .

In modern day aircrafts we have a “IVHM” i.e. integrated vehicle health

monitoring system. This system makes use of “SELF HEALING “materials.
Bio-composites are the prime examples of self healing materials. Industrial hemp,
flax are some of the materials which are used with resins coupled with catalyst
like “Grubbs agent” give self healing properties .It also deals with the kind of
sensors that aeronautical integrated vehicle health monitoring system uses.
The sensors in place are “Fiber optic”, “Piezoelectric”, “Infra -red Imaging”.

In India we have one of the largest fleets of fighting aircrafts that have not been
able to keep pace with the burgeoning technological advancement that has been
taking place else where. “Light Combat Aircraft” or the rechristened “TEJAS” is
a leap in that direction. “Composites” are being used in the development of LCA.
The safety, cost effectiveness, and technological simplicity that Advanced
materials are bringing with them is the right remedy for a lot of Indian military
woes. May be in this way we would be able to save lot of precious lives of the
likes of our Pilots and the pride of Indian courage and daring
“KALPANA CHAWLA”
1
1 INTRODUCTION

There is the famous line from one of Dustin Hoffmann’s early movies, “The Graduate” where he
is given some career advice in the form of just one word, “Plastics”. For a physical scientist that
one word could just as easily have been “Polymers”, for these are some of the most versatile
advanced materials in use today and often are confused as plastics by many people.

We define advanced materials as those that involve knowledge (and creation of materials) at the
molecular and/or atomic scale for the purpose of advancing technology and improving the
human experience. These might be materials such as tiny carbon nanotubes that are being used in
new types of X-ray tubes that are more efficient and safer than those now in use at airports and in
doctor’s offices. These are also new coatings and methods of manufacturing of Teflon, which is
an example of a polymer material made with chemical processing methods that causes much less
pollution and is “environmentally friendly”. Other possibilities include materials used in new
diagnostic methods such as those for medical biopsies.

Advanced materials research involves knowing the conditions under which a material will be
used and identifying candidate materials for this purpose. Existing materials are unsuitable, the
applied and basic scientist must work together to develop new materials and/or nanostructures.
This synergism between what is available and what needs to be developed reflects the important
and complementary roles of the basic and applied sciences in Materials Science.

Fig1. shows Advanced materials

2
1.1 Advanced materials are used for the following uses:-

It reduces the weight of the product manufactured. It also improves (Memory polymer) the
strength of the material formed. It is used in designing morphing wings and most importantly it
creates self-healing structures i.e. in case of an emergency it heals the deformed part or the
broken part of that material.

Examples of the advanced materials include Memory Polymers, composites, bio-composites,

thermoplastics and alloys.

The examples are described as follows:

1.2 MEMORY POLYMERS

They are of two types. They are

 Veriflex:
Veriflex: It is a shape memory polymer resin which modifies its shape in response to
temperature changes.

 Veritex:
Veritex: It is a dynamic composite that utilizes Veriflex resin as its matrix. When heated,
Veritex is pliable and maintains shape as it cools, regaining structural stiffness. Once
reheated it returns to its original shape and can be remolded without degrading.

Fig 2 shows different types of fibres Fig 3 shows chained molecules

3
2. COMPOSITES

Composites are a combination of two or more organic or inorganic components one of which
serves as a matrix holding them together and then other of which serves as reinforcement in the
form of fibers. Composites are lightweight and strong but they are complex to manufacture
expensive and hard to inspect for flaws.

2.1 THERMOPLASTICS

Thermoplastics are a new type of materials that is replacing thermo sets such as epoxy,
bismaleimide, or polyimide as the matrix for composites. Thermoplastics are easier to produce
and are much more durable and tougher than thermosets.

2.2 BIO-COMPOSITES

Biocomposites combine plant fibers with resins to create

natural based composite materials.

Some advantages of the bio-composites over traditional

composites include:-

Fig 4 shows bio composites

It reduces the weight of the material increases the flexibility. It also enhances the moldability of
the material formed. As far as the cost is concerned, it is less expensive and also has sound
insulation. It is a renewable resource and has got self healing properties which make this
material much more durable in comparison of other materials.

2.3 ALLOYS

They are combination of two or more materials. The benefits we have by using alloys are that it
decreases the weight; it is very much durable and at the same time easy to manufacture and
repair.

4
2.3.1 Application to Morphing Wings

Stronger, shape memory and self-healing polymers are applicable to the design of morphing
wings. Lockheed’s 14ft remote-control aircraft makes use of Veriflex and Veritex polymers to
change shape and ensure a streamline profile as the wings morph.

Nextgen Aeronautics tested a wing that's structure of aluminum lattices expanded and
compressed consequently stretching and shrinking the wings silicone-rubber skin and causing
the wing tips to move forward and back, and changing the wing span and chord.
chord.

Fig 5 shows alloy wheel

3. Future development of Personal Air Vehicles (PAV), calls for safer, easy to fly
planes.

Self-healing (often biocomposite) materials can be utilized to reduce maintenance. An

Aeronautic Vehicle Integrated Health Management System is looking into self-healing materials
that will fill cracks in the structure by breaking capsules and releasing adhesive.

3.1 Aeronautical Integrated Vehicle Health Monitoring System (IVHM)

It will be used for the following reasons:

For the detection of damaging events then to characterize the damage i.e. to know which kind or
type of damage has been caused thereafter prioritizing the seriousness of the damage and
identification of the cause of the damage and finally formulation of the response and then its
execution.

5
This can also be stated as principle for the development of IVHM or the reasons for the
development of Aeronautical Integrated Health Monitoring System.

3.1.1 What is IVHM?

It can be defined as an Intelligent sensing system which performs following operations:-

It detects and measures quantities and uses this information to make forward looking decisions.
And uses thousands and perhaps millions of different sensors used to measure different
quantities (stress, strain, temperature, acoustics, etc…).

3.1.2 How does IVHM work?

IVHM separates structures (skin, ribs, components, etc...) into a series of cells and each cell is
equipped with a group of sensors and the
sensors communicate with neighboring
cells as well as a central computer.

4. Types of SENSORS.
SENSORS.

They are namely fiber optic,

piezoelectric and infrared imaging.

Fig 6 shows fiber optic

4.1 Fiber Optic Sensors:

Fiber optic sensors can measure strain, temperature and pressure. Specifically they can measure
bond line integrity, acoustic emissions, and corrosion. It uses Bragg grating to measure changes
in light signal. A change in stress moves the Bragg grating producing a shift in the reflected

6
wavelength. Fiber Optics is brittle so they must be embedded into materials, this is very
expensive and complicates manufacturing and repair practices.

Fig 7 shows wavelength shift in strained fiber Fig 8 shows types of strains in fiber

4.2 Piezoelectric Materials:

It converts mechanical input into an electrical signal (sensor) or convert and electrical pulse
into a mechanical action (actuator).It can detect energies caused by impact events or defect
generation (cracks, delamination).Arrays of sensors allow a pinpoint determination of the
damage location. Sensors have been able to detect cracks 0.005 inches in length of six inches.
Will be embedded or surface mounted. It is a less expensive option available to us.

4.3 Infrared Imaging:

Fig
9 shows heat signature of a hydraulic valve
7
It detects heat signatures in order to detect leaks, cracks, debonding, corrosion, poor electrical
wiring and contacts, and to assess overall thermal profiles of components. Mostly used to detect
defects or damage in the propulsion system. Infrared imaging is widely used and it is
inexpensive.

5. CONCLUSION

Advanced material have heralded a new era in the technological pursuits of man. The prime
focus of advanced material is cost effectiveness, efficiency, clean, durable and eco-friendly
technologies. The flag bearer of Indian Military and technological might light combat aircraft
TEJAS is a potent and fruitful application of advanced material.

Not only in the field of military but in our day to day life it plays a vital role. Right from the
utensils to thermoplastics, everywhere this so called boon to mankind in form of advanced
material is present.

In the near future the usage of advanced material is going to increase to a large extent i.e. solely
because of its innumerous and rare properties that is very difficult to find in other materials.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

http://showcase.netins.net/web/creativecomposites/Biocomposites.html, Creative Composites,

Ltd., 19 September 2006
http://www.crgrp.net/veriflex.htm, CRG Industries, LLC., 19 September 2006
“Flying off the Drawing Board”, Jeff Wise, Popular Mechanics, volume 183 no. 7, July 2006
http://www.crgindustries.com/veritex.htm, CRG Industries, LLC, 19 September 2008
http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Evolution_of_Technology/composites/Tech40.htm, U.S.
Centennial of Flight Commission, 23 September 2006
http://ammtiac.alionscience.com/pdf/2004MaterialEASE27.pdf#search=%22Vehicle
%20Integrated%20Health%20Monitoring%20System%22, The AMPTIAC Quarterly, Volume 8,
Number 3, “Sensors and Sensing Technologies for Integrated Vehicle Health Monitoring
Systems”
http://wikipedia.com//definitionadvancedmaterial.html for knowledge about the structures of the
advanced material and its application.