Initial Feasibility of Protective Skins for Composite Airliners

Seeking revolutionary improvement in the performance and weight of composite structures, Cessna Aircraft Company, with sponsorship from the NASA Fundamental Aeronautics Program/Subsonic Fixed Wing Project, is developing a protective skin concept which would allow the primary composite structure to only carry load and would meet the impact and hot, humid requirements through protective skins. Weight reduction may be possible by using one material to perform two or more functions. At least as important as weight reduction is the ability to provide smooth aircraft surfaces which would facilitate significant natural laminar flow. The goals of this research are to determine if the protective skin concept is feasible and to provide guidance on material properties which would improve protective skin performance. A first generation of protective skins has been designed and tested. The results from these first protective skins are presented here.