Towards application of fibre metal laminates in large aircraft

TLDR

Fibre metal laminates, hybrid materials of bonded metal sheets and fibre/adhesive layers developed at Delft University, offer 20 % weight reduction along with superior fatigue, impact, damage tolerance and low density, positioning them as strong candidates for fuselage skins of next‑generation high‑capacity aircraft. Current industrialization and qualification efforts are focused on enabling these laminates for aircraft designers.

Abstract

Fibre metal laminates were developed at Delft University during the last two decades as a family of new hybrid materials consisting of bonded thin metal sheets and fibre/adhesive layers. This laminated structure provides the material with excellent fatigue, impact and damage tolerance characteristics and a low density. While the 20 per cent weight reduction was the prime driver behind the development of this new family of materials, it turns out that additional benefits like cost reduction and an improved safety level have become more and more important. The combination of these aspects in one material makes fibre metal laminates a strong candidate material for fuselage skin structures of the new generation of high capacity aircraft. The focus on this application currently leads to industrialization and qualification that makes this material available to the aircraft designer.