High-performance fibre shield to protect critical aircraft parts from engine fragments
When rotating aircraft engine components break down, one potential destructive result is that fragments may shoot outward at very high speeds. This flying shrapnel may easily damage main structures such as the fuselage. Thanks to EU funding, the IMPSHIELDB (Impact shield design B) project aimed to prevent damage to critical aircraft components by designing and manufacturing impact shielding. Project partners created three innovative shielding design models from well-established high-performance fibres and manufacturing methods to meet the requirement for reduced weight in aircraft applications and lower manufacturing costs. They developed and tested the manufacturing methods for these design concepts. The IMPSHIELDB team modified shield designs to account for the differences in size and weight between the three projectiles. The first shield's corrugated design was halted following impact simulations that did not meet requirements for smaller and lighter projectiles. Shield materials were then manufactured. Similarly, the folded loops concept for the second shield was dropped when simulations showed that such loops will not unfold as required for these projectiles. Composite reinforcement materials were used for such shields. For the third shield, design calculations revealed that an air gap between the shield laminates did not improve the performance of the shields for these projectiles. The team opted for a pure aramid laminate solution without an air gap in the manufacture of laminates. Shield panels were manufactured following a series of tests. Researchers conducted a literature review on the environmental effects of the materials. The panels were then aged in an environmental chamber for nearly 2 months to monitor the weight gain approximately every 100 hours. After the ageing process, the panels were delivered for further testing. The impact shields designed by IMPSHIELDB will provide the basis for the shielding structures that will be incorporated into key aircraft components. Such components will remain out of harm's way in the event of an engine burst, keeping crew and passengers safe.
