Abstract
Design and certification of novel self-healing aerospace structures was explored by reviewing the suitability of conventional deterministic certification approaches. A sandwich structure with a vascular network self-healing system was used as a case study. A novel probabilistic approach using a Monte Carlo method to generate an overall probability of structural failure yields notable new insights into design of self-healing systems, including a drive for a faster healing time of less than two flight hours. In the case study considered, a mature self-healing system could be expected to reduce the probability of structural failure (compared to a conventional damage-tolerant construction) by almost an order of magnitude. In a risk-based framework this could be traded against simplified maintenance activity (to save cost) and/or increased allowable stress (to allow a lighter structure). The first estimate of the increase in design allowable stresses permitted by a self-healing system is around 8per cent, with a self-healing system much lighter than previously envisaged. It is thought these methods and conclusions could have wider application to self-healing and conventional highperformance composite structures.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 435-449 |
Number of pages | 15 |
Journal | Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part O: Journal of Risk and Reliability |
Volume | 225 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Dec 2011 |
Keywords
- Certification
- Composite
- Impact damage
- Monte Carlo
- Sandwich structure
- Self-healing
- Self-repair
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality