M. Heinimann, R. Bucci, M. Kulak, M. Garratt

This paper summarizes the outcome of several research programs carried out by the Alcoa Technical Center to evaluate and quantify the potential benefits of selective reinforcement combined with advanced aluminum alloys, novel design and manufacturing concepts to achieve substantial weight and cost improvements in fuselage and wing applications. Various test panels were subjected to constant amplitude and spectrum crack growth loading and tested for large crack residual strength. In these test programs a variety of aluminum skin materials were evaluated, while the reinforcing strap materials investigated included aluminum alloys and various fiber metal laminates. The testing demonstrated that selective reinforcement yields significant improvements in damage tolerance, with crack growth life improved by a factor of 2 to 4, or correspondingly an allowable stress level improvement of at least 15%. Test panels with selective reinforcement demonstrated residual strength improvements of up to 40% compared to equal weight unreinforced panels. The resulting experimental data has been analyzed to provide examples of potentially achievable weight savings in advanced aluminum aircraft structures by combining the use of advanced alloys, novel manufacturing concepts and local selective reinforcement.

23rd ICAF Symposium of the international Committee on Aeronautical Fatique, 2005, Hamburg

Conference Paper

englisch

A5, 12 Seiten

DGLR-Bericht, 2005, 2005-03, 23rd ICAF Symposium of the international Committee on Aeronautical Fatique - Proceedings; S.197-208; 2005; Deutsche Gesellschaft für Luft- und Raumfahrt - Lilienthal-Oberth e.V., Bonn

NA

crack growth, fractures

Bestellbar

2005