What is the composite repair method?
Application of composite repairs involves layers of carbon fiber impregnated with epoxy resin being built up to the specified requirements in terms of thickness, overlap onto good metal, fiber orientation, gradient at the ends or edges of the repair and so on, in line with the repair design specifications. Composites allow designers to achieve the same level of strength with significantly less weight, contributing to improved fuel efficiency and overall performance. Durability and fatigue resistance: composites are resistant to fatigue and corrosion, common issues faced by metal structures in aircraft.Although damage to the composite exterior is readily apparent, detecting damage beneath it is often difficult. After assessing all the damage, repairing a composite structure usually means greater downtime because of the cure times resins and adhesives require.Composites are incredibly strong – They can be custom-tailored to add strength in critical areas, such as spots that may bend or wear out. With steel, if greater strength is needed in any area then more metal must be added, which in turn increases weight.Disadvantages ofComposites Composites are more brittle than wrought metals and thus are more easily damaged. Cast metals also tend to be brittle. Repair introduces new problems, for the following reasons: Materials require refrigerated transport and storage and have limited shelf lives.