Aircraft composite wingbox integration

• Main Authors: Munk, Clayton L, Kismarton, Max U
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 19.02.2019
• Subjects: AEROPLANES; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS; DESIGNING, MANUFACTURING, ASSEMBLING, CLEANING, MAINTAINING ORREPAIRING AIRCRAFT, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; GROUND OR AIRCRAFT-CARRIER-DECK INSTALLATIONS SPECIALLYADAPTED FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT; HANDLING, TRANSPORTING, TESTING OR INSPECTING AIRCRAFTCOMPONENTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; HELICOPTERS; INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULARARTICLES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCESIN A PLASTIC STATE; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; TRANSPORTING; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL

Systems and methods are provided for integrating structural components of a wing box. One embodiment is a system that includes outboard planked stringers within an outboard section of a wing box and are co-cured with composite skin at the outboard section. Each outboard planked stringer of the outboard section includes planar layers of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) that are parallel with the composite skin at the outboard section, have fiber orientations aligned to bear tension and compression applied to the wing box, and each extend a different distance along the composite skin at the outboard section. The system also includes center planked stringers within the center section and are co-cured with composite skin at the center section. Each center planked stringer of the center section includes planar layers of CFRP that are parallel with the composite skin at the center section, have fiber orientations aligned to bear tension and compression applied to the wing box, and each extend a different distance along the skin at the center section.