Residual thermal stresses around bonded fibre metal laminate repair patches on an aircraft fuselage

Aerospace Engineerin

Residual thermal stresses around bonded fibre metal laminate repair patches on an aircraft fuselage

Residual stresses are present after elevated temperature cure of adhesively bonded patches to cracked aircraft structures. These residual stresses will affect the performance and the durability of the repair. Strain and temperature measurements were taken on a real aircraft fuselage section during and after repair at three locations. Thermal buckling of the skin was observed and therefore a precuring at a lower temperature was employed. Also at a lower temperature a significant outward bending of the skin was observed which influences the residual stresses. The measured temperature field corresponded weil with the theoretical model of Rose.Aerospace Engineerin