Research on durability of composite materials used in repairing aircraft components

The paper presents methodology and results of research on durability of composite materials, which were applied to expedient repair of damaged aircraft components. Numerical calculation and experimental tests were conducted during research. The obtained results proved that failure of aircraft components is connected with local loss of stability in case of aircraft’s skin and stiffness in case of girders and beams. The damaged components were repaired with the use of a metal insert and a composite patch. The use of a metal insert, which had the same stiffness as repaired elements, was a solution which allowed to restore local stiffness of repaired components. Composite patches which were formed with glass, carbon or aramid fabrics impregnated with epoxy resins, also created an adhesive bonds and joined all elements of repaired zone. The experimental tests proved that the executed repairs whose time was limited to 120 minutes improved stability, stiffness and fatigue life of the repaired components.