December 2022 Composites Blog
December 15, 2022
Boeing Tests Innovative Active Aeroelastic Wing Technology
Boeing recently tested their active aeroelastic wing technology on a Mcdonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet. These active aeroelastic wings integrate aerodynamics, controls, and structures to adjust aeroelastic twist. The idea of wing twisting for aviation was inspired by how birds maneuver their wings to make turns. This idea however was eventually abandoned and instead wings were fitted with slats, flats, and ailerons for maneuverability. Boeing revived this idea and working in conjunction with the Air force and NASA they designed and tested this innovative wing technology. Before testing, the F/A-18 fighter jet was first sent to Boeing's phantom works facility in St. Louis where its wings were modified using composite material and lightweight aluminum. The jet was then tested at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California. This Project was also a test to see where and how new composite materials could be used in aircraft manufacturing. Learn more here.
December 31, 2022
Toray Redesigns the Orion Spacecraft's Aeroshell
Toray Redesigns the Orion Spacecraft's Aeroshell
Innovative composites firm Toray detail their involvement in NASA's Artemis Space Program and how they contributed in designing and fabricating the Orion Spacecraft's aeroshell. The aeroshell of a spacecraft is absolutely vital because it is the barrier that shields the inside of the craft from extreme temperatures, micrometeoroids, and radiation. For the Orion spacecraft, Toray looked to improve upon the aeroshell used in the Apollo spacecraft. The improvements involved increasing the craft's weight and strength tolerances by changing the material that constitutes the aeroshell. The engineers did away with the traditional heavy and costly titanium sheet skin and replaced it with Toray's specially formulated modulus carbon fiber/cyanate ester prepreg, TC420. Learn more about the Orion's cutting-edge design here.
