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Discussion post:

Researchers are working on a method to repair airplanes using composite patches, which can be affixed to both aluminum and the next generation of compound materials planes. The project’s objective is to minimize maintenance costs, improve aircraft reliability, and lengthen their service lives. Research is now being done with the goal of developing composite patches for use in aircraft repairs. These patches can be applied to planes made of aluminum as well as the next generation of compound materials planes. The objectives of the project are to cut down on the amount of money spent on aircraft maintenance while at the same time boosting aircraft reliability and improving aircraft service lives.

This article discusses how aircraft can benefit from utilizing composite materials. In composites, the separate components do not disappear or else combine into a single entity with the whole. When two or more different types of material are blended, the resulting product is referred to as a “hybrid,” and it has greater structural capabilities. However, repairs to composites are expensive, despite the fact that these materials are superior in terms of the aircraft’s ability to remain in service for a longer period of time. Because of this, manufacturers are looking into ways to help improve the composites’ reliability while simultaneously lowering the cost of repairs.

In my previous work, I was responsible for performing scheduled preventative maintenance on a variety of MDSs, including C130s, F16s, F15s, E3s, and HH60s. One of the most important “special inspections” that we had to perform was washing the aircraft, which included an inspection for corrosion as well as a cleaning of the aircraft. This was all required by corrosion control technical orders. One of the most important checks that are performed on these aircraft is called depot maintenance. During this check, the aircraft is taken to a hangar at the depot where it stays for anywhere from several months to an entire year. There have been situations when aircraft have needed to be repaired due to rust that was not discovered until after the aircraft had been disassembled at the depot. In these cases, the corrosion was discovered during the disassembly process. This can cause even more downtime for the aircraft in the hopes of repairing the aircraft for flight worthiness and longer the aircraft is gone longer the base has less aircraft to work with.

Figure 1

Carbon Composite Material Market

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Note. Use of composites: (a) Carbon Composite material market; (b) Materials used in a Boeing 787.