Abstract Trends in Application of Advanced Composites to Commercial Aircraft

Recent progress made by NASA in applications of advanced composites to aircraft structures is reviewed. Particular emphasis is given to flight service evaluation programs that are or will be accumulating experience with secondary and primary structural components on aircraft. The NASA flight service programs are conducted to obtain practical experience in design, manufacturing and operational considerations for a variety of aircraft components. The primary focus for the programs have been commercial transports. To establish confidence in advanced composites to a point where both transport builders and transport users are willing to make long-term production commitments using composites, NASA has initiated a series of programs to introduce advanced composites into airline fleet service. In implementing this program, initial applications were selective reinforcement of metal components on military aircraft. Small secondary structural components for commercial transports were added to the program; larger secondary components are being fabricated; and large primary structural components are in the design or planning stage. Results will be présented from flight service programs with composite-reinforced metal structures in the CH-54B helicopter tail cone and the C-130 transport aircraft wing boxes. Experience with advanced composite components on the L-1011, B-737 and DC-10 commercial transports will be also reported. A description of future NASA programs that are aimed at composite primary structures in commercial transport aircraft and at development of high-temperature composites technology that may be applicable to future supersonic aircraft will also be reviewed.