Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-8ctnn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T21:04:35.713Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Static test of a variable stiffness thermoplastic composite wingbox under shear, bending and torsion

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 January 2020

G. Zucco Open the ORCID record for G. Zucco [Opens in a new window] ,
V. Oliveri Open the ORCID record for V. Oliveri [Opens in a new window] ,
M. Rouhi Open the ORCID record for M. Rouhi [Opens in a new window] ,
R. Telford ,
G. Clancy ,
C. McHale Open the ORCID record for C. McHale [Opens in a new window] ,
R. O’Higgins Open the ORCID record for R. O’Higgins [Opens in a new window] ,
T.M. Young Open the ORCID record for T.M. Young [Opens in a new window] ,
P.M. Weaver Open the ORCID record for P.M. Weaver [Opens in a new window]  and
D. Peeters
G. Zucco
Affiliation:
School of Engineering and Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
V. Oliveri
Affiliation:
School of Engineering and Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
M. Rouhi
Affiliation:
School of Engineering and Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
R. Telford
Affiliation:
School of Engineering and Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
G. Clancy
Affiliation:
School of Engineering and Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
C. McHale
Affiliation:
School of Engineering and Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
R. O’Higgins
Affiliation:
School of Engineering and Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
T.M. Young
Affiliation:
School of Engineering and Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
P.M. Weaver*
Affiliation:
School of Engineering and Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
D. Peeters
Affiliation:
School of Engineering and Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
*
Paul.Weaver@ul.ie
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Automated manufacturing of thermoplastic composites has found increased interest in aerospace applications over the past three decades because of its great potential in low-cost, high rate, repeatable production of high performance composite structures. Experimental validation is a key element in the development of structures made using this emerging technology. In this work, a $750\times640\times240$ mm variable-stiffness unitised integrated-stiffener out-of-autoclave thermoplastic composite wingbox is tested for a combined shear-bending-torsion induced buckling load. The wingbox is manufactured by in-situ consolidation using a laser-assisted automated tape placement technique. It is made and tested as a demonstrator section located at 85% of the wing semi-span of a B-737/A320 sized aircraft. A bespoke in-house test rig and two aluminium dummy wingboxes are also designed and manufactured for testing the wingbox assembly which spans more than 3m. Prior to testing, the wingbox assembly and the test rig were analysed using a high fidelity finite element method to minimise the failure risk due to the applied load case. The experimental test results of the wingbox are also compared with the predictions made by a numerical study performed by nonlinear finite element analysis showing less than 5% difference in load-displacement behaviour and buckling load and full agreement in predicting the buckling mode shape.

Keywords

Composite wingbox; Variable stiffness; Tow steering; Buckling; Thermoplastic; Testing
Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 124 , Issue 1275 , May 2020 , pp. 635 - 666
Copyright
© Royal Aeronautical Society 2020

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Schuster, S.A. Testing the structural integrity of the boeing 777, Sensors – J Appl Sens Technol, 1996, 13, (2), pp 10–16.Google Scholar
Giurgiutiu, V. Chapter 1 - introduction, in: V. Giurgiutiu (Ed.), Structural Health Monitoring of Aerospace Composites, Academic Press, 2016, Oxford, pp 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-409605-9.00001-5. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780124096059000015.Google Scholar
Boeing 787 from the ground up. http://www.boeing.com/commercial/aeromagazine/articles/qtr_4_06/AERO_Q406_article4.pdf, accessed 10 November 2015.Google Scholar
A350xwb technology. http://www.airbus.com/aircraftfamilies/passengeraircraft/a350xwbfamily/technology-and-innovation, accessed 10 November 2015.Google Scholar
Roux, M., EguÉmann, N., Dransfeld, C., ThiÉbaud, F. and Perreux, D.Thermoplastic carbon fibre-reinforced polymer recycling with electrodynamical fragmentation: from cradle to cradle, J Thermoplast Compos Mater, 2017, 30, (3), pp 381–403. doi:10.1177/0892705715599431. https://doi.org/10.1177/0892705715599431CrossRefGoogle Scholar
F-22a raptor advanced tactical fighter, http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/f22/, accessed 23 February 2018.Google Scholar
Gardiner, G.Thermoplastic composites gain leading edge on the A380: breakthrough manufacturing process produces lightweight, affordable glass-reinforced PPS J-nose on the worlds largest commercial aircraft wing, High Perform Compos, 2006, 14, (2), p 50.Google Scholar
Roux, M., EguÉmann, N., Dransfeld, C., ThiÉbaud, F. and Perreux, D.Thermoplastic carbon fibre-reinforced polymer recycling with electrodynamical fragmentation: from cradle to cradle, J Thermoplast Compos Mater, 2017, 30, (3), pp 381–403.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pora, J. Composite Materials in the Airbus A380 – From History to Future, 2001, Beijing, China.Google Scholar
A single-piece composite centre wing box for aircraft. http://www.jeccomposites.com/knowledge/international-composites-news/single-piece-composite-centre-wing-box-aircraft, accessed 15 May 2018.Google Scholar
Oliveri, V., Zucco, G., Peeters, D., Telford, R., Clancy, G., Rouhi, M., McHale, C., O’Higgins, R., Young, T.M. and Weaver, P.M.Design, manufacture and test of an in-situ consolidated thermoplastic variable-stiffness wingbox, AIAA J. doi:10.2514/1.J057758.Google Scholar
Liguori, F.S., Zucco, G., Madeo, A., Magisano, D., Leonetti, L., Garcea, G. and Weaver, P.M.Postbuckling optimisation of a variable angle tow composite wingbox using a multi-modal Koiter approach, Thin-Walled Struct, 2019, 138, pp 183–198. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tws.2019.01.035.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bandaru, A.K., Clancy, G., Peeters, D., Oiggins, R.M. and Weaver, P.M.Properties of a thermoplastic composite skin-stiffener interface in a stiffened structure manufactured by laser-assisted tape placement with in situ consolidation, Compos Struct, 2019, 214, pp 123–131. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2019.02.011. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0263822318341199.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clancy, G., Peeters, D., Oliveri, V., Jones, D., Oiggins, R.M. and Weaver, P.M.A study of the influence of processing parameters on steering of carbon fibre/peek tapes using laser-assisted tape placement, Compos Part B: Eng, 2019, 163, pp 243–251. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2018.11.033. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S135983681832300X.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zucco, G., Oliveri, V., Peeters, D., Telford, R., Clancy, G., McHale, C., Rouhi, M., O’Higgins, R., Young, T.M. and Weaver, P.M. Static test of a thermoplastic composite wingbox under shear and bending moment, SciTech Conference, 8–12 January 2018, Gaylord Palms, Kissimmee, Florida, 2018.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Oliveri, V., Peeters, D., Clancy, G., O’Higgins, R., Jones, D. and Weaver, P.M. Design, optimization and manufacturing of a unitized thermoplastic wing-box structure, SciTech Conference, 8–12 January 2018, Gaylord Palms, Kissimmee, Florida, 2018.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Peeters, D., Clancy, G., Oliveri, V., Oiggins, R.M., Jones, D. and Weaver, P.M.Concurrent design and manufacture of a thermoplastic composite stiffener, Compos Struct, 2019, 212, pp 271–280.CrossRefGoogle Scholar