Abstract:
The present invention regards an aircraft structure comprising an aerodynamic composite shell (7), the interior face (9) of which in whole or in part is bonded with at least one two- or three-dimensional structural composite part (11) by means of a bonding material (15). It also regards a method of manufacture of the aircraft structure. The bonding material (15) comprises a non-structural fiber reinforced resin system, wherein at least one portion of the bonding material, which portion spatially corresponds with an interior face filling volume (21), is thicker than other portions of the bonding material (15), due to settlement of resin of the non-structural fiber reinforced resin system in said interior face filling volume (21) during the viscous phase of the curing of the non-structural fiber reinforced resin system.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a panel, especially for a component having a box structure in an airplane airfoil, comprising a surface shaped body and grid-like reinforcement bars protruding from the body on one side of the body, and the body and the grid-like reinforcement bars are integral molded. Since the body and the grid-like reinforcement bars of the panel are integral molded, no additional connecting process is required, so that the disconnection phenomenon as happened between the skin and the stiffener or stringer of the prior art would not occur, and the assembly complexity can be decreased.
Abstract:
Plies (11) of continuous fiber material are oriented and cut to the intended shape of a structural component, such as the vertical tail of an aircraft. Two skins or laminates (12, 22) are created by laying the cut-to-shape plies into a matched mold, with over-woven or over-braided mandrels (51) or similar tooling details placed between the skins. The mold (21) is closed and a thermosetting resin is injected into the mold to fully impregnate any fibers that were unimpregnated at the time of mold closure and to fully fill all void areas inside the mold. The mold is held closed with pressure, such as by a press, and heated to cure the resin while the resin in the mold is subjected to a hydrostatic pressure sufficient to constrain growth of voids. The contiguous faces of the impregnated braid or weave (41) covering the mandrels are united by the resin, forming vertical or angular laminate between the inner faces of the skins. The resin similarly unites the portions of the braids or weaves that are contiguous with the inner surfaces or the skins, bonding the braids or weaves to the skins to create a unitized structure. The resulting structure is capable of functioning without addition of mechanical fasteners that are required in conventional structures to join skins to understructure.
Abstract:
A winglet (10) is disclosed, with first and second covers (20, 22), a front spar (24), a rear spar (26), and a mid spar (28) between the front spar (24) and the rear spar (26). Each spar is joined to the first cover (20) and to the second cover (22). The mid spar (28) has an I- shaped cross-section comprising a mid spar web (29), a first pair of mid spar caps (29a, 30a) joining the mid spar (28) to the first cover (20), and a second pair of mid spar caps (29b, 30b) joining the mid spar (28) to the second cover (22). The mid spar (28) has a length and the mid spar (28) curves along all or part of its length. A winglet cover assembly (100) is also disclosed, with a cover (20) and a spar (28) formed from fibre-reinforced composite material. The spar (28) has an l-shaped cross-section comprising a spar web (29), a first pair of spar caps (29a, 30a) joining the spar web (29) to the cover (20), and a second pair of spar caps (29b, 30b); and the cover (20) is bonded to the first pair of spar caps (29a, 30a).
Abstract:
An aircraft with (I) a wing assembly primary each of three moulding, one providing a spar, a second most of the exterior including the leading edge, and a third at least most of the rear under surface and (II) a compatible fuselage. The wing assembly and its components also constitute the invention.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a process for producing a monolithic product (14) wherein a piece of stock is formed, then machined. The invention encompasses a monolithic product (14) made by the process.
Abstract:
Process for manufacturing a structural component (1, 1', 1", 1''', 1"" ) made of composite material comprising a skin (2) and at least one stiffening stringer (3, 3', 3", 3"', 3"") applied rigidly and integrally to one face (2a) of the skin (2); the process comprises the following steps: a) arranging on a tool (12, 12', 12", 12''', 12"") a plurality of first layers (4; 4a', 4b'; 4"; 4'"'; 4a"", 4b"", 4c"") of uncured or p re-cured composite material forming the stringer (3, 3', 3", 3'", 3"") presenting a longitudinal axis (A) and having a raised portion (7, 7', 7", 7''', 7"" ) protruding from at least one flange (8) extending parallel to the longitudinal axis (A) and along a lying surface that is flat or is a surface of revolution (S);) b) arranging on said tool (12, 12', 12", 12''', 12"") a plurality of second layers of uncured or p re-cured composite material forming said skin (2); c) making a face (2a) of said skin (2), parallel to said lying surface (S), and said flange (8) of said stringer (3, 3', 3", 3'", 3"") adhere to each other; d) applying predetermined temperature and pressure on the assembly thus formed so as to compact said layers together, possibly curing the uncured material and rigidly joining said skin (2) to said stringer (3, 3', 3", 3'", 3"" ); and e) performing a cutting operation on the free end side edge/s (13) of said flange (8) in a transversal direction with respect to said lying surface (S); and f) cover said end side edge/s (13) of the end of said flange (8) with a coating of composite material so as to seal outwards the layers (4; 4a', 4b'; 4 "; 4'"; 4a"", 4b"") forming said flange (8).
Abstract:
An aircraft has a wing providing the main lifting surface for the aircraft. The wing has a structure supporting an aerodynamic surface, and the wing has a weight, the wing structure being unable to support its own weight when the aircraft is stationary and under a load of 1g so as to cause structural failure of the wing.