Comparative Analysis of Composite Materials for Aircraft and UAV Wing Spars
Abstract: This paper presents a comparative review of composite materials used in aircraft and UAV wing spars, with emphasis on lightweight aerospace structures [3], [4], [8]. Materials including Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP), Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP), Kevlar/epoxy composites, and hybrid composites such as carbon?glass and carbon?flax systems are evaluated using findings from previous experimental and numerical studies [5], [8], [12]. The comparison focuses on important mechanical properties including strength, stiffness, fatigue resistance, fracture toughness, corrosion resistance, and structural weight reduction. The review indicates that composite materials provide significant advantages over conventional aluminium alloys in terms of strength-to-weight ratio and overall structural efficiency [9], [15], [18]. Among the materials studied, TR50 carbon fiber with an R367-2 epoxy matrix demonstrated the best overall performance due to its high strength, excellent stiffness, superior fatigue resistance, and lightweight characteristics. The study concludes that advanced CFRP systems are highly suitable for modern aircraft and UAV wing spar applications.
Keywords: Aerospace Engineering, Composite Materials, Aircraft Wing Spars, UAV Structures, CFRP, Lightweight Structures, Structural Optimization, Aerospace Composites
How to Cite?: Steve Sheldon, "Comparative Analysis of Composite Materials for Aircraft and UAV Wing Spars", Volume 15 Issue 5, May 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1751-1755, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26526224242, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26526224242