PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Fired engineer calls 787's plastic fuselage unsafe
Old 19th September 2007 | 10:59
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PAXboy
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The impact survivability of Carbon Fibre structures has been proven to be greater that that of aluminium due to the ability of the composite structure to absorb the impact energy whereas the aluminium deforms.
Eerrr. As the aluminium deforms - it absorbs the impact energy.

In order to ascertain whether one material is better than another, you would need to show us the formal tests of two items constructed to identical dimensions and for the same purpose from different material that were then subjected ... etcetera.

As to CF structures been 'proven' to be better in impacts, there is not as much evidence accumulated to compare with Al, due simply to the length of time that Al has been in use for aircraft. That does not mean that Al is better than CF materials but we do not really know. That question can be answered in another 20 years time.
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