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Introduction to aerospace materials

A Mouritz, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia

 - reviews the main structural and engine materials used in aircraft, helicopters and space craft in terms of their properties, performance and applications
 - introduces the reader to the range of aerospace materials, focusing on recent developments and requirements, and discusses the properties and production of metals for aerospace structures
 - chapters look in depth at individual metals including aluminium, titanium, magnesium, steel and superalloys
 - issues and benefits of aerospace materials disposal, recycling and selection are comprehensively covered

The structural materials used in airframe and propulsion systems influence the cost, performance and safety of aircraft, and an understanding of the wide range of materials used and the issues surrounding them is essential for the student of aerospace engineering.Introduction to aerospace materials reviews the main structural and engine materials used in aircraft, helicopters and spacecraft in terms of their production, properties, performance and applications.

The first three chapters of the book introduce the reader to the range of aerospace materials, focusing on recent developments and requirements. Following these introductory chapters, the book moves on to discuss the properties and production of metals for aerospace structures, including chapters covering strengthening of metal alloys, mechanical testing, and casting, processing and machining of aerospace metals. The next ten chapters look in depth at individual metals including aluminium, titanium, magnesium, steel and superalloys, as well as the properties and processing of polymers, composites and wood. Chapters on performance issues such as fracture, fatigue and corrosion precede a chapter focusing on inspection and structural health monitoring of aerospace materials. Disposal/recycling and materials selection are covered in the final two chapters.

With its comprehensive coverage of the main issues surrounding structural aerospace materials,Introduction to aerospace materials is essential reading for undergraduate students studying aerospace and aeronautical engineering. It will also be a valuable resource for postgraduate students and practising aerospace engineers.

ISBN 1 85573 946 1
ISBN-13: 978 1 85573 946 8
May 2012
640 pages  244 x 172mm  paperback  
£55.00 / US$95.00 / €65.00

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About the author

Adrian P. Mouritz is Professor of Aerospace Materials at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia.

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Contents

Introduction to aerospace materials
 - The importance of aerospace materials
 - Understanding aerospace materials
 - Introducing the main types of aerospace materials
 - What makes for a good aerospace material?
 - Summary
 - Further reading and research

Aerospace materials: past, present and future
 - Introduction
 - Brief history of aerospace materials
 - Materials for the global aerospace industry
 - Future advances in aerospace materials
 - Summary
 - Further reading and research

Materials and material requirements for aerospace structures and engines
 - Introduction
 - Fixed-wing aircraft structures
 - Helicopter structures
 - Space shuttle structures
 - Summary
 - Further reading and research

Strengthening of metal alloys
 - Introduction
 - Crystal structure of metals
 - Defects in crystal structures
 - Strengthening of metals
 - Summary
 - Terminology
 - Further reading and research

Mechanical and durability testing of aerospace materials
 - Introduction
 - Tension test
 - Compression test
 - Flexure test
 - Hardness test
 - Fracture test
 - Drop-weight impact test
 - Fatigue test
 - Creep test
 - Environmental durability testing
 - Certification of aerospace materials
 - Summary
 - Terminology
 - Further reading and research

Production and casting of aerospace metals
 - Introduction
 - Production of metal alloys
 - Casting of metal alloys
 - Casting processes
 - Summary
 - Terminology
 - Further reading and research
 - Case study: casting defects causing engine disk failure in United Airlines Flight 232

Processing and machining of aerospace metals
 - Introduction
 - Metal forming processes
 - Hot and cold working of metal products
 - Powder metallurgy production of aerospace superalloys
 - Machining of metals
 - Summary
 - Terminology
 - Further reading and research

Aluminium alloys for aircraft structures
 - Introduction
 - Aluminium alloy types
 - Non-age-hardenable aluminium alloys
 - Age-hardenable aluminium alloys
 - Speciality aluminium alloys
 - Heat treatment of age-hardenable aluminium alloys
 - High temperature strength of aluminium
 - Summary
 - Further reading and research

Titanium alloys for aerospace structures and engines
 - Introduction
 - Titanium alloys: advantages and disadvantages for aerospace applications
 - Types of titanium alloy
 - Titanium aluminides
 - Shape memory titanium alloys
 - Summary
 - Terminology
 - Further reading and research

Magnesium alloys for aerospace structures
 - Introduction
 - Metallurgy of magnesium alloys
 - Summary
 - Further reading and research

Steels for aircraft structures
 - Introduction
 - Basic principles of steel metallurgy
 - Maraging steel
 - Medium carbon low alloy steel
 - Stainless steel
 - Summary
 - Terminology
 - Further reading and research

Superalloys for gas turbine engines
 - Introduction
 - A simple guide to jet engine technology
 - Nickel-based superalloys
 - Iron-nickel superalloys
 - Cobalt superalloys
 - Thermal barrier coatings for jet engine alloys
 - Advanced materials for jet engines
 - Summary
 - Further reading and research

Polymers for aerospace structures
 - Introduction
 - Aerospace applications of polymers
 - Advantages of disadvantages of polymers for aerospace applications
 - Polymerization
 - Thermoset polymers
 - Thermoplastics
 - Elastomers
 - Structural adhesives
 - Mechanical properties of polymers
 - Polymer additives
 - Polymers for radar absorbing materials
 - Summary
 - Terminology
 - Further reading and research
 - Case study: space shuttle Challenger accident

Manufacturing of fibre-polymer composite materials
 - Introduction
 - Fibre reinforcements for composites
 - Production of prepregs and fabrics
 - Core materials for sandwich composites
 - Composites manufacturing using prepreg
 - Composites manufacturing by resin infusion
 - Machining of composites
 - Summary
 - Terminology
 - Further reading and research
 - Case study: carbon nanotubes in composites

Fibre-polymer composites for aerospace structures and engines
 - Introduction
 - Types of composite materials
 - Aerospace applications of fibre-polymer composites
 - Advantages and problems with using fibre-polymer composites
 - Mechanics of continuous fibre composites
 - Sandwich composites
 - Environmental durability of composites
 - Summary
 - Terminology
 - Further reading and research

Metal matrix, fibre-metal and ceramic matrix composites for aerospace applications
 - Metal matrix composites
 - Fibre metal laminates
 - Ceramic matrix composites
 - Summary
 - Terminology
 - Further reading and research
 - Case study: ceramic matrix composities in the space shuttle orbite

Wood in small aircraft construction
 - Introduction
 - Advantages and disadvantages of wood
 - Hardwoods and softwoods
 - Structure and composition of wood
 - Engineering properties of wood
 - Summary
 - Terminology
 - Further reading and research
 - Case study: Spruce Goose (Hughes H-4 Hercules)

Fracture processes of aerospace materials
 - Introduction
 - Fracture processes of aerospace materials
 - Stress concentration effects in materials
 - Fracture mechanics
 - Application of fracture mechanics to aerospace materials
 - Summary
 - Terminology
 - Further reading and research
 - Case study: fracture of aircraft composite radome

Fracture-toughness properties of aerospace materials
 - Introduction
 - Fracture toughness properties
 - Ductile/brittle fracture transition for metals
 - Improving the fracture toughness of aerospace materials
 - Summary
 - Terminology
 - Further reading and research

Fatigue of aerospace materials
 - Introduction
 - Fatigue stress
 - Fatigue life (S-N) curves
 - Fatigue crack growth curves
 - Fatigue of metals
 - Fatigue of fibre-polymer composites
 - Summary
 - Terminology
 - Further reading and research
 - Case study: aircraft fatigue in Japan Airlines fl ight 123
 - Case study: fatigue – comet aircraft accidents

Corrosion of aerospace metals
 - Introduction
 - Corrosion process
 - Types of corrosion
 - Corrosion protection of metals
 - Summary
 - Terminology
 - Further reading and research
 - Case study: corrosion in the Aloha Airlines fl ight 243

Creep of aerospace materials
 - Introduction
 - Creep behaviour of materials
 - Creep of metals
 - Creep of polymers and polymer composites
 - Creep resistant materials
 - Summary
 - Terminology
 - Further reading and research

Nondestructive inspection and structural health monitoring of aerospace materials
 - Introduction
 - Non-destructive inspection methods
 - Structural health monitoring (SHM)
 - Summary
 - Terminology
 - Further reading and research

Disposal and recycling of aerospace materials
 - Introduction
 - Metal recycling
 - Composite recycling
 - Summary
 - Further reading and research

Materials selection for aerospace
 - Introduction
 - Materials selection in design
 - Stages of materials selection
 - Materials property charts
 - Structural properties in materials selection
 - Economic and business considerations in materials selection
 - Manufacturing considerations in materials selection
 - Durability considerations in materials selection
 - Environmental considerations in materials selection
 - Specialist properties in materials selection
 - Summary
 - Terminology
 - Further reading and research