Sara Black Senior Technical Editor Emeritus

Fabrics/Preforms 22 Aug 2016

Spread-tow fabrics: better than traditional reinforcements in aerospace applications?

There’s a lot happening in the area of spread-tow fabrics, yet aerospace adoption has been slow because of a lack of analytical tools and performance tests, particularly impact tests.

Construction 12 Aug 2016

Engineering large-diameter underground pipe

A combination of design and new materials enhances pipe performance without adding cost.

Weaving 8 Aug 2016

Oshkosh’s AirVenture 2016 included a big infusion event

The big annual airshow featured the on-site infusion of complete aircraft fuselages for two kit aircraft.

Automotive 1 Jun 2020

Composite tanks best stainless steel over road, rail and sea

One-piece, filament wound containers cost less, hold more, last longer.

Sustainability 26 Jul 2016

Electric power for aircraft on the horizon

As a general aviation enthusiast and co-pilot — my husband and I fly a Mooney on occasion — I have been closely following the news about the Solar Impulse plane and the team’s historic round-the-world flight, on solar power alone.

Composites Basics 12 Jul 2016

Structural adhesives: The basics

An adhesive is “structural” if it has sufficient strength to transfer or share loads between highly stressed components. Here's what that requires.

Infrastructure 11 Jul 2016

Structural adhesives, Part II: Aerospace

Tried-and-true legacy epoxies are a must for aerospace composites, but usage is increasing with improved forms.

Weaving 6 Jul 2016

Not your average carbon fiber part

A Swedish industrial designer and artisan, Ragnar Friberg, contacted CW recently about a new project: a one-of-a-kind custom champagne glass and an accompanying storage cabinet that incorporates carbon fiber — along with a number of high-end materials.