FIBER-REINFORCED THERMOPLASTIC COMPOSITE STRUCTURAL MEMBERS, AIRCRAFT INCLUDING THE SAME, AND RELATED METHODS

• Main Author: Blom-Schieber, Adriana W
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 10.10.2024
• Subjects: AEROPLANES; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS; HELICOPTERS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; 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

Fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composite structural members (FRTCSM), aircraft including the same, and related methods are disclosed herein. The FRTCSMs include a first thermoplastic sub-structure that includes a first web, a first flange that extends away from the first web, and a first transition region between the first flange and the first web. The FRTCSMs also include a second thermoplastic sub-structure that includes a second web, a second flange that extends away from the second web, and a second transition region between the second flange and the second web. The first web is welded to the second web. The aircraft include at least one FRTCSM. The methods include positioning the first thermoplastic sub-structure and the second thermoplastic sub-structure such that the first web faces the second web, compressing the first web and the second web together, and welding the first web and the second web to one another.