Contact: Wilco GERRITS
Tel: +31-885114404
The National Aerospace Laboratory (NLR) conducts applied research on behalf of the aviation and aerospace sectors. NLR is the key center of expertise for aerospace technology in the Netherlands. NLR employs around 700 people, including 300 with a Master degree and 150 with a Bachelor degree. NLR’s facilities include wind tunnels (for testing aircraft produced by Airbus, Lockheed Martin and others), simulators (for testing the safety of new flight procedures, among other things), and laboratory aircraft. NLR’s revenue amount to € 78 million, with contracts accounting for € 56 million.
NLR is a large institute with specialists in various aerospace and related disciplines. Within the transport sector a clear trend for application of aerospace materials and technologies for
lightweight, fuel- and cost saving (structural) components is found. NLR’s Structures Technology department has all the necessary resources for composites development, a well equipped laboratory, a variety of software tools and access to expertise and facilities of other NLR departments.
Below is a non-exhaustive list of topics the department has conducted research into:
- Autoclave processing
- Resin Transfer Moulding
- Vacuum infusion
- RTM flow simulations
- Process monitoring & control of the composites manufacturing process
- Thermoplastics processing
- Fatigue of composites
- Crashworthiness of composite structures
- Ageing of composites
- Adhesive bonding
- Optimisation of composite structures
- Automation of preforming for RTM
- Braiding preforming method for RTM
- Fibre placement
- Resin Film Infusion
- RTM preforming using stitching
- Braiding as reinforcemnent
- RTM mould sealing concepts
- Cracking behaviour of polymer coatings on composites
Research is also conducted into metals used in aircraft fuselages, wings and related structures. Focus is on fibre metal laminates, aluminium and titanium alloys, corrosion and corrosion prevention using coatings
