Around Glare: A New Aircraft Material in Context

From the beginning of the 1980s, the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands developed fibre metal laminates such as Glare. This new family of hybrid materials consists of thin metal layers bonded together by fibres embedded in an adhesive, thus creating a material possessing a mixture of metal and composite characteristics. Introducing new technologies in the aircraft industry is not to be taken lightly. By nature, the aircraft industry is rather conservative; innovations must be proven – a paradox actually – in all possible ways before they can be introduced in real aircraft structures. Not only do technical aspects play a role in this respect; historical, cultural, economical and political issues are equally important. This book deals with the less technical and non-technical issues related to Glare's introduction in aviation from different perspectives.