Adhesive bonding is an efficient structural joining technique that enables efficient lightweight composite airframe design, a prerequisite for the transition towards more sustainable aviation. However, automation of the bonding process in manufacturing, in combination with stringent certification requirements, demands advances in understanding of, and in assessment methodologies for, fatigue and damage tolerance.
In this position you will contribute to this need, by developing and validating prediction methodologies consisting of static and fatigue damage growth tests on generic coupons, in conjunction with analytical or numerical modelling. This project will feature a large amount of experimental work, in combination with analytical and/or numerical modelling, depending on which approach proves to be most feasible.
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