Increase of air transport is not accompanied by a percentage increase of airborne accidents; however, the absolute number of fatalities due to accidents has increased in proportion. Moreover, despite the strict safety measures, terrorist acts cause the probability of an internal or external incident of fire or blast to increase. More than ever, passenger airborne safety and consumer faith require hardening strategies, which should be incorporated in aircraft design. Composite and hybrid metal/composite aero structures are nowadays considered as the only way to obtain a safe, light, environmentally friendly and cost effective aircraft. This fact is reflected in the constantly increasing usage of such materials in the new generation civil aircrafts.

The improvement of current aircraft against blast and/or fire incidents remains an open issue; therefore, the vulnerability of composite and hybrid structures under such loading is imposing more intense research than ever. The scope of this project encompasses the development of novel materials and design optimisation strategies aiming at strengthening composite/hybrid airborne structures and prevents catastrophic damage due to internal blast loading or fire incidents. This will be obtained via the assessment of the vulnerability of model aerostructures to blast and fire. Numerical tools will be developed and validated against experimental findings in order to develop a vulnerability map of typical substructures.

Vulnerable loci will be identified and reinforced in two ways:
(a) By introducing novel design approaches and
(b) by using tailored novel composite and hybrid materials. Implicit and explicit measures will be considered based on reinforcing design strategies and novel materials.

Finally, hardened sub aerostructures will be designed manufactured and validated aiming at a tenfold increase in blast and fire resistance compared to those currently used with minimum weight penalty.