Abstract:
A method of making a composite skin (199) for a tiltrotor aircraft includes providing a first skin (201) in a mold (220), the first skin (201) having a periphery (201p) defined by a forward edge (201a), an aft edge (201b), and outboard ends (201c, 201d); providing a plurality of honeycomb panels (203) having an array of large cells (205) onto the first skin (201), each cell having a width of at least 1 cm; assembling the plurality of honeycomb panels (203) along the longitudinal axis of the first skin (201) to form a honeycomb core (207) having an outer perimeter (207p) within the periphery (201p) of the first skin (201); positioning a plurality of filler members (209) between the plurality of honeycomb panels and positioning a plurality of filler members on outboard ends of the honeycomb core, wherein each of the filler members is butt jointed to the respective adjacent honeycomb panel; positioning a second skin (211) onto the honeycomb core (207), the second skin (211) having an outer perimeter (211p) within the periphery (201p) of the first skin (201); and curing an adhesive to create a bond between the first skin (201), the honeycomb core (207), and the second skin (211) to form a composite skin (199).
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a tiltrotor wing structure (109) including providing a spar mold (402) having a plurality of bores (410) extending from an exterior surface (402e) of the mold (402) to an interior surface (402i) of the mold (402), the plurality of bores (410) corresponding to a plurality of primary coordination holes (422) in a spar member (418), the spar mold (402) having a periphery (406p) defined by a top edge (406t), a bottom edge (406b) and outboard ends (406c, 406d); selecting a plurality of resin impregnated plies (412) to ensure that the plies (412) continuously extend beyond the periphery (406p) of the spar mold (402); laying the plies (412) in the spar mold (402); curing the plies (412) in the mold (402) to form a cured spar member (418) that extends beyond the periphery (406p) of the spar mold (402); and accurately drilling a plurality of primary coordination holes (422) in the cured spar member (418) in the spar mold (402) using a tool (417) positioned in the plurality of bores (410).
Abstract:
In one aspect, there is a method of making a pre-cured laminate having a total number of plies in a mold (190), the mold (190) having a periphery (198) defined by a forward edge (198a), an aft edge (198b), and outboard ends (198c, 198d). The method includes selecting a first plurality of resin impregnated plies (173) that continuously extend beyond the periphery (189) of the mold (190), the first plurality of resin impregnated plies (173) includes at least 50 percent of the total number of plies; laying the plies in a mold (190); compacting the plies in a mold (190); and pre-curing the plies to form a pre-cured laminate, which can extend beyond the periphery (198) of the mold (190). In an embodiment, a pre-cured laminate includes a first plurality of resin impregnated plies (173) that continuously extend beyond the periphery (198) of the mold (190), the first plurality of resin impregnated plies (173) includes at least 50 percent of the total number of plies.
Abstract:
In one aspect, there is a method of making a pre-cured laminate having a total number of plies in a mold (190), the mold (190) having a periphery (198) defined by a forward edge (198a), an aft edge (198b), and outboard ends (198c, 198d). The method includes selecting a first plurality of resin impregnated plies (173) that continuously extend beyond the periphery (189) of the mold (190), the first plurality of resin impregnated plies (173) includes at least 50 percent of the total number of plies; laying the plies in a mold (190); compacting the plies in a mold (190); and pre-curing the plies to form a pre-cured laminate, which can extend beyond the periphery (198) of the mold (190). In an embodiment, a pre-cured laminate includes a first plurality of resin impregnated plies (173) that continuously extend beyond the periphery (198) of the mold (190), the first plurality of resin impregnated plies (173) includes at least 50 percent of the total number of plies.
Abstract:
The method comprises heating a composite material into a viscous form, wherein the composite material comprises a thermoplastic (216) and a plurality of reinforcement fibers (217), wherein the plurality of reinforcement fibers (217) is randomly arranged within the thermoplastic (216). The method further comprises extruding a plurality of strands (215) of the composite material, wherein extruding the plurality of strands (215) causes the plurality of reinforcement fibers (217) within each strand (215) to align. The method further comprises arranging the plurality of strands (215) of the composite material to form a mold tool (300), wherein the mold tool (300) is configured to mold a composite structure at a heated temperature, and wherein the mold tool (300) comprises an anisotropic thermal expansion property, wherein the anisotropic thermal expansion property is based on an orientation of the plurality of reinforcement fibers (217) within the mold tool (300).
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a tiltrotor wing structure (109) including providing a spar mold (402) having a plurality of bores (410) extending from an exterior surface (402e) of the mold (402) to an interior surface (402i) of the mold (402), the plurality of bores (410) corresponding to a plurality of primary coordination holes (422) in a spar member (418), the spar mold (402) having a periphery (406p) defined by a top edge (406t), a bottom edge (406b) and outboard ends (406c, 406d); selecting a plurality of resin impregnated plies (412) to ensure that the plies (412) continuously extend beyond the periphery (406p) of the spar mold (402); laying the plies (412) in the spar mold (402); curing the plies (412) in the mold (402) to form a cured spar member (418) that extends beyond the periphery (406p) of the spar mold (402); and accurately drilling a plurality of primary coordination holes (422) in the cured spar member (418) in the spar mold (402) using a tool (417) positioned in the plurality of bores (410).
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a core stiffened structure includes orienting the plurality of core wafers (2401) in a non-uniform pattern onto a first face sheet (2805), the non-uniform pattern producing non-uniform spacing (2809) between adjacent core wafers; assembling a second face sheet (2803) onto the plurality of wafers (2401); and curing an adhesive to create a bond between the plurality of wafers (2401), the first face sheet (2805), and the second face sheet (2803).