The structural materials used in airframe and propulsion systems influence the cost, performance and safety of aircraft, and an understanding of the wide range of materials used and the issues surrounding them is essential for the student of aerospace engineering.Introduction to aerospace materials reviews the main structural and engine materials used in aircraft, helicopters and spacecraft in terms of their production, properties, performance and applications.The first three chapters of the book introduce the reader to the range of aerospace materials, focusing on recent developments and requirements. Following these introductory chapters, the book moves on to discuss the properties and production of metals for aerospace structures, including chapters covering strengthening of metal alloys, mechanical testing, and casting, processing and machining of aerospace metals. The next ten chapters look in depth at individual metals including aluminium, titanium, magnesium, steel and superalloys, as well as the properties and processing of polymers, composites and wood. Chapters on performance issues such as fracture, fatigue and corrosion precede a chapter focusing on inspection and structural health monitoring of aerospace materials. Disposal/recycling and materials selection are covered in the final two chapters.With its comprehensive coverage of the main issues surrounding structural aerospace materials,Introduction to aerospace materials is essential reading for undergraduate students studying aerospace and aeronautical engineering. It will also be a valuable resource for postgraduate students and practising aerospace engineers.

Table of Contents:
Preface Chapter 1: Introduction to aerospace materials 1.1 The importance of aerospace materials 1.2 Understanding aerospace materials 1.3 Introducing the main types of aerospace materials 1.4 What makes for a good aerospace material? 1.5 Summary Chapter 2: Aerospace materials: past, present and future 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Brief history of aerospace materials 2.3 Materials for the global aerospace industry 2.4 Future advances in aerospace materials 2.5 Summary Chapter 3: Materials and material requirements for aerospace structures and engines 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Fixed-wing aircraft structures 3.3 Helicopter structures 3.4 Space shuttle structures 3.5 Summary Chapter 4: Strengthening of metal alloys 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Crystal structure of metals 4.3 Defects in crystal structures 4.4 Strengthening of metals 4.5 Summary 4.6 Terminology Chapter 5: Mechanical and durability testing of aerospace materials 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Tension test 5.3 Compression test 5.4 Flexure test 5.5 Hardness test 5.6 Fracture test 5.7 Drop-weight impact test 5.8 Fatigue test 5.9 Creep test 5.10 Environmental durability testing 5.11 Certification of aerospace materials 5.12 Summary 5.13 Terminology Chapter 6: Production and casting of aerospace metals 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Production of metal alloys 6.3 Casting of metal alloys 6.4 Casting processes 6.5 Summary 6.6 Terminology 6.8 Case study: casting defects causing engine disc failure in United Airlines flight 232 Chapter 7: Processing and machining of aerospace metals 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Metal-forming processes 7.3 Hot and cold working of metal products 7.4 Powder metallurgy for production of aerospace superalloys 7.5 Machining of metals 7.6 Summary 7.7 Terminology Chapter 8: Aluminium alloys for aircraft structures 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Aluminium alloy types 8.3 Non-age-hardenable aluminium alloys 8.4 Age-hardenable aluminium alloys 8.5 Speciality aluminium alloys 8.6 Heat treatment of age-hardenable aluminium alloys 8.7 High-temperature strength of aluminium 8.8 Summary Chapter 9: Titanium alloys for aerospace structures and engines 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Titanium alloys: advantages and disadvantages for aerospace applications 9.3 Types of titanium alloy 9.4 Titanium aluminides 9.5 Shape-memory titanium alloys 9.6 Summary 9.7 Terminology Chapter 10: Magnesium alloys for aerospace structures 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Metallurgy of magnesium alloys 10.3 Summary Chapter 11: Steels for aircraft structures 11.1 Introduction 11.2 Basic principles of steel metallurgy 11.3 Maraging steel 11.4 Medium-carbon low-alloy steel 11.5 Stainless steel 11.6 Summary 11.7 Terminology Chapter 12: Superalloys for gas turbine engines 12.1 Introduction 12.2 A simple guide to jet engine technology 12.3 Nickel-based superalloys 12.4 Iron–nickel superalloys 12.5 Cobalt superalloys 12.6 Thermal barrier coatings for jet engine alloys 12.7 Advanced materials for jet engines 12.8 Summary Chapter 13: Polymers for aerospace structures 13.1 Introduction 13.2 Aerospace applications of polymers 13.3 Advantages and disadvantages of polymers for aerospace applications 13.4 Polymerisation 13.5 Thermosetting polymers 13.6 Thermoplastics 13.7 Elastomers 13.8 Structural adhesives 13.9 Mechanical properties of polymers 13.10 Polymer additives 13.11 Polymers for radar-absorbing materials (RAMs) 13.12 Summary 13.13 Terminology 13.15 Case study: space shuttle Challenger accident Chapter 14: Manufacturing of fibre–polymer composite materials 14.1 Introduction 14.2 Fibre reinforcements for composites 14.3 Production of prepregs and fabrics 14.4 Core materials for sandwich composites 14.5 Composites manufacturing using prepreg 14.6 Composites manufacturing by resin infusion 14.7 Machining of composites 14.8 Summary 14.9 Terminology 14.11 Case study: carbon nanotubes in composites Chapter 15: Fibre–polymer composites for aerospace structures and engines 15.1 Introduction 15.2 Types of composite materials 15.3 Aerospace applications of fibre–polymer composites 15.4 Advantages and disadvantages of using fibre-polymer composites 15.5 Mechanics of continuous-fibre composites 15.6 Sandwich composites 15.7 Environmental durability of composites 15.8 Summary 15.9 Terminology Chapter 16: Metal matrix, fibre–metal and ceramic matrix composites for aerospace applications 16.1 Metal matrix composites 16.2 Fibre–metal laminates 16.3 Ceramic matrix composites 16.4 Summary 16.5 Terminology 16.7 Case study: ceramic matrix composites in the space shuttle orbiter Chapter 17: Wood in small aircraft construction 17.1 Introduction 17.2 Advantages and disadvantages of wood 17.3 Hardwoods and softwoods 17.4 Structure and composition of wood 17.5 Engineering properties of wood 17.6 Summary 17.7 Terminology 17.9 Case study: Spruce Goose (Hughes H-4 Hercules) Chapter 18: Fracture processes of aerospace materials 18.1 Introduction 18.2 Fracture processes of aerospace materials 18.3 Stress concentration effects in materials 18.4 Fracture mechanics 18.5 Application of fracture mechanics to aerospace materials 18.6 Summary 18.7 Terminology 18.9 Case study fracture in the space shuttle Columbia disaster 18.10 Case study: fracture of aircraft composite radome Chapter 19: Fracture toughness properties of aerospace materials 19.1 Introduction 19.2 Fracture toughness properties 19.3 Ductile/brittle fracture transition for metals 19.4 Improving the fracture toughness of aerospace materials 19.5 Summary 19.6 Terminology Chapter 20: Fatigue of aerospace materials 20.1 Introduction 20.2 Fatigue stress 20.3 Fatigue life (S–N) curves 20.4 Fatigue-crack growth curves 20.5 Fatigue of metals 20.6 Fatigue of fibre–polymer composites 20.7 Fretting, acoustic and thermal fatigue 20.8 Summary 20.9 Terminology Chapter 21: Corrosion of aerospace metals 21.1 Introduction 21.2 Corrosion process 21.3 Types of corrosion 21.4 Corrosion protection of metals 21.5 Summary 21.6 Terminology 21.8 Case study: corrosion in the Aloha Airlines flight 243 Chapter 22: Creep of aerospace materials 22.1 Introduction 22.2 Creep behaviour of materials 22.3 Creep of metals 22.4 Creep of polymers and polymer composites 22.5 Creep-resistant materials 22.6 Summary 22.7 Terminology Chapter 23: Nondestructive inspection and structural health monitoring of aerospace materials 23.1 Introduction 23.2 Nondestructive inspection methods 23.3 Structural health monitoring (SHM) 23.4 Summary 23.5 Terminology Chapter 24: Disposal and recycling of aerospace materials 24.1 Introduction 24.2 Metal recycling 24.3 Composite recycling 24.4 Summary Chapter 25: Materials selection for aerospace 25.1 Introduction 25.2 Materials selection in design 25.3 Stages of materials selection 25.4 Materials property charts 25.5 Structural properties in materials selection 25.6 Economic and business considerations in materials selection 25.7 Manufacturing considerations in materials selection 25.8 Durability considerations in materials selection 25.9 Environmental considerations in materials selection 25.10 Specialist properties in materials selection 25.11 Summary 25.12 Terminology Index