Damage Investigation on the Upper Skin Composite Panels of Eurofighter Aircraft

Abstract

The fighter planes of the fifth generation, as compared to the fourth, has increased the composite materials use since high mechanical properties enhance the operational performance. However, composite materials present some negative characteristics such as damage progression, leading to delamination or matrix failure. This phenomenon often results in an unknown behaviour. This paper deals with the delamination phenomenon after casual low energy impacts. On different specimens, we performed different investigations through dynamic characterization, followed by modal parameters elaboration. After completing the first phase an opportune simulation model by FEM was developed to compare the obtained results whose values were in agreement with the real case.