Adhesive bonding of aircraft structures
Source abstract
Abstract
Adhesive bonding of aircraft primary structures has been in use for over 50 years and is still in use on current aircraft projects as a direct alternative to riveting. Bonding of stringers to skins for both fuselage and wing construction and of metallic honeycomb to skins for elevators, ailerons, tabs and spoilers are the main uses for adhesives. Details of the historical use of adhesive bonding on commercial aircraft and how the adhesive materials developed are given. Assessment of bonded structures are made by carrying out routine tensile lap shear (pr EN 2243-1) and peel tests (BS EN 2243-2 for metal to metal and BS EN 2243-3 for metal to metal honeycomb) to determine the strength. In addition, early bond loads of a particular assembly are assessed for a long period of time by tensile lap shear and pull test pieces based on the component adherend form. Qualification of new adhesives is far more protracted and involves fluid immersion, accelerated ageing, high, low and cyclic temperature testing followed, if successful, by structural fatigue and static buckling tests on bonded structure. The importance of the phenolic/polyvinyl formal adhesive Hexcel Redux 775 to British Aerospace bonding programmes is noted.
Source: openaire · Quality: candidate unverified · Source record ↗
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Manufacturing Process and Optimization · Mechanical Failure Analysis and Simulation · Engineering and Materials Science Studies
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References (9)
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1. Various BAe internal studies of long term warm/wet immersion of adhesive bonded lap shear test pieces of Hexcel Redux 775, Hexcel Redux 308A, Cytec FM73 and 3M Co. AF163-2 adhesives.
2. Dixon D. Prediction of lap shear and peel strength of adhesive bonds, and update on results of accelerated environmental testing. BAe Sowerby Research Centre, Report No:JS 13729, May 1997. p. 3.
3. Beevers A. Project 3, Environmental durability of adhesive bonds, Report No.9 Forensic studies of adhesive joints - Part 2 Bonded aircraft structure. September 1995. p. 33.
4. Evans GB. 40 years of structural adhesive bonding. — Chartered Mechanical Engineer 1985, p. 23–27.
5. De Bruyne NA. Redux in aircraft Ciba Company Inc. 1955, Available from Hexcel Composites, Duxford.
6. Aero Research Technical Note, Redux — The first 12 years. Bulletin No. 149, Hexcel Composites Duxford.
7. Aero Research Technical Note, The structure of the DeHavilland Comet bulletin No. 165, Hexcel Composites Duxford.
8. Reavey DG. Marine experience of structural adhesives in Hovercraft. SAMPE Journal 1981; pp 18–21.
9. USA Air Force. Primary Adhesive Bonded Structure Technology (PABST) program — Technical Report AAF/DL/TR76-141 Dec.1976. p. 223–246.