Structures and Materials in the 90s - Concept and Prospects.

Abstract

Worldwide, the impact of technical and economic developments has always been strongly affected by the exploitation of new materials. It appears that advanced materials and structural design technology presently form the basis of an new thrust of technical innovation in which decreasing specific weight is the common denominator in all components. Structures and materials in aeronautical constructions in the 50s and 60s were isotropic, homogeneous and metallic. In the 70s and 80s more and more non-isotropic, inhomogeneous and non-metallic structures and materials came into use. Today, the airframe of a modern military aircraft already consists of 50 % fibre reinforced composites. This led to a drastic decrease in weight together with increased flight performance. Advanced ceramics and composites appear to play a fundamental role in the development of a new generation of hypersonic flight vehicles.