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Interpreting the data: Components undergo crack propagation testing


The name of the game W


As Mike Richardson discovers, whilst the design and manufacture of composite components is in constant evolution, the structural test arena must also overcome the challenges provided by the material’s unique properties.


hat’s in a name? Well, for any company this usually means building a brand name for itself, and while brand perception can’t change overnight, a company


still needs to do its level best to keep its name at the front of people’s minds. In 2008, Bodycote Testing Group was bought by Clayton, Dubilier and Rice, and renamed Exova in 2009. One year on since the rebranding and the significance of Exova’s aerospace division in particular continues to gather momentum. This is due to the increasing amount of development work around new aircraft and engines, which is especially focused on integrated composite structures. Driven by cost optimisation and weight reduction, manufacturers and material suppliers are keen to develop solutions that integrate structures into complex single components that are manufactured in one hit. The specifics of integrated composite structures centre on simultaneously manufactured components and materials which calls for quality testing and if need be, repair procedures performed after the curing process. Looking back over the last year, Exova’s director of the


aerospace division, Stuart Abbs says that while business in the sector is still tough and the routine production of raw materials, castings and forgings remains slow, the company continues to diversify into new material test areas. “The last twelve months have been challenging,” he admits.


“The traditional manufacturing market where Exova performed much of its testing on raw materials is still quite depressed, due mainly to the recession and the stock control and inventory corrections being made by major aerospace primes. However, what has helped us through this tough period is our work relating to research and development testing, and especially that connected with composite structures. “We realised a recession was looming, so we took the


conscious decision to look at what was going to be the driver over the next few years. It is clear that within the aerospace industry that there is a huge push to produce lighter and more environmentally efficient aircraft. Designers are increasingly looking at composite materials as a means of ‘lightweighting’ their aircraft designs rather than relying on traditional materials such as aluminium and titanium.” Therein lies the challenge for the aerospace sector in that


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