Development of thermoplastic composite aircraft structures. Final report, April 1989-April 1991

Technical Report · Sun Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:7020484

Renieri, M P; Burpo, S J; Roundy, L M; Todd, S A; Kim, H J

Efforts focused on the use of thermoplastic composite materials in the development of structural details associated with an advanced fighter fuselage section with applicability to transport design. In support of these designs, mechanics developments were conducted in two areas. First, a dissipative strain energy approach to material characterization and failure prediction, developed at the Naval Research Laboratory, was evaluated as a design/analysis tool. Second, a finite element formulation for thick composites was developed and incorporated into a lug analysis method which incorporates pin bending effects. Manufacturing concepts were developed for an upper fuel cell cover. A detailed trade study produced two promising concepts: fiber placement and single-step diaphragm forming. Based on the innovative design/manufacturing concepts for the fuselage section primary structure, elements were designed, fabricated, and structurally tested. These elements focused on key issues such as thick composite lugs and low cost forming of fastenerless, stiffener/moldine concepts. Manufacturing techniques included autoclave consolidation, single diaphragm consolidation (SDCC) and roll-forming.

• Research Organization: McDonnell Aircraft Co., St. Louis, MO (United States)
• OSTI ID: 7020484
• Report Number(s): N-94-32860; NASA-CR--189593; NAS--1.26:189593; CNN: NAS1-18862
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360601* -- Other Materials-- Preparation & Manufacture
AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS
CALCULATION METHODS
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
DOCUMENT TYPES
FABRICATION
FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
MATERIALS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PLASTICS
POLYMERS
PROGRESS REPORT
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS
THERMOPLASTICS