University of Cambridge

Fatigue cracked fuselage of Comet 2 jet aircraft

These images represent tests done on the fuselage of the Comet 2 jet aircraft subjected to fatigue loading via repeated cabin pressurisation. The Comet 2 had rounded windows. The fatigue cracks then initiated at rivet holes.

The Comet experience led to a radical change in testing philosophy - full aircraft testing rather than just the testing of components.

Photographs courtesy of Dr Lin Sun and his son, during a visit to the RAF Cosford museum.







fatigue, Comet, Comet jet, crack growth, cabin pressurisation, Lin Sun, Yoke Uncle, metallurgy, physical metallurgy
Origin of failure		 fatigue, Comet, Comet jet, crack growth, cabin pressurisation, Lin Sun, Yoke Uncle, metallurgy, physical metallurgy
fatigue, Comet, Comet jet, crack growth, cabin pressurisation, Lin Sun, Yoke Uncle, metallurgy, physical metallurgy
 fatigue, Comet, Comet jet, crack growth, cabin pressurisation, Lin Sun, Yoke Uncle, metallurgy, physical metallurgy
fatigue, Comet, Comet jet, crack growth, cabin pressurisation, Lin Sun, Yoke Uncle, metallurgy, physical metallurgy
 fatigue, Comet, Comet jet, crack growth, cabin pressurisation, Lin Sun, Yoke Uncle, metallurgy, physical metallurgy
"Fatigue is the growth of a crack. This takes place with repeated loading at a level below that which would normally cause the failure of the material".
fatigue, Comet, Comet jet, crack growth, cabin pressurisation, Lin Sun, Yoke Uncle, metallurgy, physical metallurgy
Disaster strikes		 fatigue, Comet, Comet jet, crack growth, cabin pressurisation, Lin Sun, Yoke Uncle, metallurgy, physical metallurgy
III



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