Fatigue life assessment for composite structure

Abstract

This work presents some of the most recent advances in the technologies which could enable accurate assessment of useful life for composite aircraft fatigue-critical, flight-critical components and structure. Such technology advances include: (1) nondestructive subsurface measurement shift from just detection of defects to three-dimensional measurement of defect location and size; (2) material characterization methods ability to generate 3D material allowables at minimum time and cost; and (3) fatigue structural analysis techniques ability to capture multiple damage modes and their interaction. The authors summarize their recent results in all three subjects.