Environmental Graffiti

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner: Composites on Trial Part II

Boeing's 787 Dreamliner is 80% composite materials by volume and 50% by weight. Rising fuel costs mandate widespread use of composites, but questions about long term structural stability have yet to be resolved. In the second of a three-part series, we assess the Dreamliner in minute detail, while also bringing you news of a dramatic blog post on composite fuselage cracks written by an industry insider.

Continue reading...

Airbus A350: Composites on Trial Part I

The Airbus A350 represents a breakthrough in aircraft design because more than 50% of the aircraft's weight is composite parts. However, recent Airbus crashes that have shocked the world again raise questions about the long term durability of carbon-resin components. In the first of a three part series, we look at composites as they appear in the A350 and start to weigh up their benefits – and potential costs.

Continue reading...