Repeated impacts on composite aero-structures

In service, aerospace composite components are subject to a multitude of seemingly minor impact threats every day, for example due to ice shedding or hailstones.
Over a part's lifetime, this can result in millions of such impacts that may have detrimental effects to component life.
This project will take a combined experimental and numerical approach to investigate the effects of repeated low-level impacts.
The project outcomes will be used to understand and generate impact fatigue allowables for composite component design, which could unlock more sustainable and efficient aircraft designs with reduced engine power requirements.