Fibre Metal Laminates (FMLs) are hybrid materials consisting of alternating layers of metal sheets and composite layers (continuous, oriented fibres in an epoxy resin). The thickness of the layers is in the order of 0.3-0.5 mm and the maximum number of layers in a lay-up is unlimited. The properties of these hybrid laminates can be characterised as a mixture of the properties of metal alloys and of composite materials. Sometimes metal behaviour like plasticity dominates, sometimes the composite behaviour like anisotropy. The combination of the two constituents offers laminates in which a number of disadvantages of the constituents are reduced or eliminated. Research over more than 20 years at Delft University of Technology has provided extensive knowledge and understanding of the behaviour of these laminates. Since the laminates are developed for application in aircraft structures, the main focus of the research is the damage tolerance behaviour of the laminates and related properties. The results of the research are used to characterise the material behaviour and to develop models. The models describe typical laminate behaviour of a wide range of different (mainly mechanical) material properties. The models that characterise and describe the behaviour of the laminates are used today to design and optimise aircraft structures and structural components. Further extension of the material characterisation part in the models is aimed at the development of new laminates having particular properties or at the improvement of existing laminates. The new developed laminates could be used for other structural applications in aircraft and in non-aerospace applications.
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