Franz, G.; Vantomme, P.; Hassan, M.H. A Review on Drilling of Multilayer Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites and Aluminum Stacks: Optimization of Strategies for Improving the Drilling Performance of Aerospace Assemblies. Fibers 2022, 10, 78. https://doi.org/10.3390/fib10090078

Franz, Gérald, Pascal Vantomme, and Muhammad Hafiz Hassan. 2022. "A Review on Drilling of Multilayer Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites and Aluminum Stacks: Optimization of Strategies for Improving the Drilling Performance of Aerospace Assemblies" Fibers 10, no. 9: 78. https://doi.org/10.3390/fib10090078

Drilling of composite partspdf

Editor’s Choice articles are based on recommendations by the scientific editors of MDPI journals from around the world. Editors select a small number of articles recently published in the journal that they believe will be particularly interesting to readers, or important in the respective research area. The aim is to provide a snapshot of some of the most exciting work published in the various research areas of the journal.

Abstract: In recent years, the use of hybrid composite stacks, particularly CFRP/Al assemblies, and fiber metal laminates (FMLs) has progressively become a convincing alternative to fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs) and conventional metal alloys to meet the requirements of structural weight reduction in the modern aerospace industry. These new structural materials, which combine greater mechanical properties with low specific mass, are commonly assembled by riveted and bolted joints. The drilling operation, which represents the essential hole-making process used in the aerospace industry, proves particularly challenging when it comes to achieving damage-free holes with tight tolerances for CFRP/Al stacks in one-shot operations under dry conditions due to the dissimilar mechanical and thermal behavior of each constituent. Rapid and severe tool wear, heat damage, oversized drilled holes and the formation of metal burrs are among the major issues induced by the drilling of multi-material stacks. This paper provides an in-depth review of recent advancements concerning the selection of optimized strategies for high-performance drilling of multi-material stacks by focusing on the significant conclusions of experimental investigations of the effects of drilling parameters and cutting tool characteristics on the drilling performance of aerospace assemblies with CFRP/Al stacks and FML materials. The feasibility of alternative drilling processes for improving the hole quality of hybrid composite stacks is also discussed. Keywords: drilling; CFRP/aluminum stacks; FML; delamination; thrust force; geometrical accuracy; surface roughness; chips; burr

Franz G, Vantomme P, Hassan MH. A Review on Drilling of Multilayer Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites and Aluminum Stacks: Optimization of Strategies for Improving the Drilling Performance of Aerospace Assemblies. Fibers. 2022; 10(9):78. https://doi.org/10.3390/fib10090078

Drilling of composite partsby hand

Feature papers represent the most advanced research with significant potential for high impact in the field. A Feature Paper should be a substantial original Article that involves several techniques or approaches, provides an outlook for future research directions and describes possible research applications.

Franz, G., Vantomme, P., & Hassan, M. H. (2022). A Review on Drilling of Multilayer Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites and Aluminum Stacks: Optimization of Strategies for Improving the Drilling Performance of Aerospace Assemblies. Fibers, 10(9), 78. https://doi.org/10.3390/fib10090078

Franz, G., Vantomme, P., & Hassan, M. H. (2022). A Review on Drilling of Multilayer Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites and Aluminum Stacks: Optimization of Strategies for Improving the Drilling Performance of Aerospace Assemblies. Fibers, 10(9), 78. https://doi.org/10.3390/fib10090078

All articles published by MDPI are made immediately available worldwide under an open access license. No special permission is required to reuse all or part of the article published by MDPI, including figures and tables. For articles published under an open access Creative Common CC BY license, any part of the article may be reused without permission provided that the original article is clearly cited. For more information, please refer to https://www.mdpi.com/openaccess.

Feature papers are submitted upon individual invitation or recommendation by the scientific editors and must receive positive feedback from the reviewers.

Franz, Gérald, Pascal Vantomme, and Muhammad Hafiz Hassan. 2022. "A Review on Drilling of Multilayer Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites and Aluminum Stacks: Optimization of Strategies for Improving the Drilling Performance of Aerospace Assemblies" Fibers 10, no. 9: 78. https://doi.org/10.3390/fib10090078

Although Tungsten was originally used for light bulbs in the early 1900’s we know today that Tungsten is a highly versatile and necessary metal for many industrial tasks.  Over the years we have expanded Tungsten’s uses to include sharpening other metals, plastics, ceramics, mining operations and construction. One factor that makes this metal particularly unique is Tungsten has the highest boiling point of all metals and second highest of all elements second to Carbon. This is a metal of choice for many military applications due to Tungsten’s durability and high resistance to corrosion. This metal is used in missiles, rockets, anti-tank armor piercing rounds, micro-shrapnel and more. By utilizing carbon in the manufacturing process engineers are able to create Tungsten Carbide. This product is significantly harder than Tungsten. On the Mohs hardness scale Tungsten is 7.5 while Tungsten Carbide is 9. Titanium is another popular metal and is recognized as a staple material for a large number of industries. Although Tungsten Carbide and Titanium have similar properties there are distinct advantages with Tungsten Carbide. Tungsten Carbide has a melting point of 5200°F while Titanium has a melting point of 3000°F. Tungsten Carbide has a hardness of 9 Mohs and Titanium is only a 6 on the Mohs hardness scale. In terms of density Titanium is signify less than Tungsten Carbide. Titanium has a density of 4.506 g/cm³ and Tungsten Carbide has a density of 15.63 g/cm³. Titanium does offer superior tensile strength of 434 MPa compared to Tungsten Carbide’s 344.8 MPa. When weight is a critical factor then Titanium is a superior choice because Tungsten Carbide is four times heavier than Titanium. However Tungsten Carbide is the clear choice for applications involving industrial machining such as cutting, tooling and abrasive processes. Tungsten Carbide rings are considered a better choice compared to Titanium rings because the superior hardness levels of Tungsten Carbide makes the ring virtually unscratchable. Newer alloys involving tungsten carbide and nickel-silicon-boron mixtures have recently hit the market and these innovations have been proven to offer superior abrasion resistance in applications involving oil and gas production. Examples of these improved products include drill bit holders, mud motors, stabilizers and kicker pads. These alloys are also engineered for versatile welding capabilities and require lower voltage and heat levels. Another update of the Tungsten industry is there has been a crack down on illegal Tungsten mining in Columbia. The Columbia government has recently closed a Tungsten mine which was run by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia. Previously this Tungsten went to several major multinational technology and automotive companies.

Franz G, Vantomme P, Hassan MH. A Review on Drilling of Multilayer Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites and Aluminum Stacks: Optimization of Strategies for Improving the Drilling Performance of Aerospace Assemblies. Fibers. 2022; 10(9):78. https://doi.org/10.3390/fib10090078

Franz, G.; Vantomme, P.; Hassan, M.H. A Review on Drilling of Multilayer Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites and Aluminum Stacks: Optimization of Strategies for Improving the Drilling Performance of Aerospace Assemblies. Fibers 2022, 10, 78. https://doi.org/10.3390/fib10090078