Numerical and Experimental Study of Defects Evolution in a Composites Wing Box Under Compressive Loads

Due to their high specific strength and stiffness, Carbon Fibres Reinforced Plastics (CFRP) are commonly considered suitable for aerospace structural applications. However, their failure mechanisms are not completely predictable and this is the main reason why the CFRP integration in the aerospace industry has been generally slow in the last twenty years. Indeed, the lack of robust numerical tools, able to take into account the damage tolerance of composite structures, has led to over-conservative designs, not fully realising the promised economic benefits of composites materials. The Project MACMES (Damage Management of Aircraft Composite Structures Monitored by Embedded Sensors), funded b…