Towards a virtual testing environment for composite aerostructures

Abstract

The emergence of an all-composite passenger airframe marks a major advance in the development of aerostructures. Underpinning this milestone is over four decades of intensive research in this area. Nonetheless, the first-generation of composite aerostructures is very conservative. This paper will discuss the need for the development of a virtual testing capability to enable better exploitation of the material’s full potential in future designs. Recent progress, by the author, in this area is presented followed by a discussion of current limitations and opportunities for further research.

Keywords:

• Composites
• buckling
• post-buckling
• finite element analysis
• damage mechanics
• optimisation
• stiffened composite panel

Additional information

Notes on contributors

B G Falzon

Prof Brian G. Falzon obtained his Bachelor of Science in Physics and Pure Mathematics, Bachelor of Engineering (Hons I) and PhD in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Sydney. He spent 12 years at Imperial College London, where he was involved in government- and industry-funded research on advanced composite aerostructures for the UK Ministry of Defence, Airbus UK, BAE Systems, QinetiQ and Shorts/Bombardier, among others.

In 2008 Brian took up the Chair of Aerospace Engineering in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Monash University. His research interests include the development of robust finite-element algorithms for predicting the response of highly non-linear structures, fracture mechanics and damage in composites, structural optimisation, the dynamic response of composite structures to impact loading, structural testing, composite repairs, process modelling, the development of virtual testing environments, and more recently the design of medical implants and modelling biomechanical systems. He is currently establishing an Advanced Aerostructures Research Laboratory for the manufacturing and testing of composite structures.

Brian is a Chartered Engineer and a member of a number of professional organisations and scientific committees. He is on the editorial board of the Applied Composites Material Journal and World Scientific Press. He has received numerous awards including the 2007 Silver Award and George Taylor prize from the Royal Aeronautical Society, and a 2008 Future Summit Australian Leadership Award.