This thesis looks into the examination of polymer composite wreckage from the
perspective of the aircraft accident investigator. It develops an understanding of
the process of wreckage examination as well as identifying the potential for
visual and macroscopic interpretation of polymer composite aircraft wreckage.
The in-field examination of aircraft wreckage, and subsequent interpretations of
material failures, can be a significant part of an aircraft accident investigation.
As the use of composite materials in aircraft construction increases, the
understanding of how macroscopic failure characteristics of composite materials
may aid the field investigator is becoming of increasing importance.
The first phase of this research project was to explore how investigation
practitioners conduct wreckage examinations. Four accident investigation case
studies were examined. The analysis of the case studies provided a framework
of the wreckage examination process.
Subsequently, a literature survey was conducted to establish the current level of
knowledge on the visual and macroscopic interpretation of polymer composite
failures. Relevant literature was identified and a compendium of visual and
macroscopic characteristics was created.
Two full-scale polymer composite wing structures were loaded statically, in an
upward bending direction, until each wing structure fractured and separated.
The wing structures were subsequently examined for the existence of failure
characteristics. The examination revealed that whilst characteristics were
present, the fragmentation of the structure destroyed valuable evidence.
A hypothetical accident scenario utilising the fractured wing structures was
developed, which UK government accident investigators subsequently
investigated. This provided refinement to the investigative framework and
suggested further guidance on the interpretation of polymer composite failures
by accident investigators.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:CRANFIELD1/oai:dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk:1826/8448 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Dunn, Leigh |
| Contributors | Braithwaite, Graham R., Greaves, Matthew |
| Publisher | Cranfield University |
| Source Sets | CRANFIELD1 |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis or dissertation, Doctoral, PhD |
| Rights | © Cranfield University 2013. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the copyright owner. |
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