Certification Procedures for Composite Structures.

Abstract

The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) anticipates that graphite/epoxy composites will be in used in the wings of production aircraft of the Model F-18 and AV-8B Advanced Harrier aircraft. The F-18 wing will utilize composite, full span, upper and lower skins. The AV-8B wing will incorporate composite sine wave substructure as well as full span upper and lower skins. This paper describes the criteria which presently determine the permissible use of composites in production aircraft and the adaptation of an existing framework of aircraft certification practices to the special characteristics of composites. Factors involving the scheduling of full-scale static and fatigue tests and their effect on the use of composites are discussed. Static and fatigue design and test loads are described. Small and large scale element testing is covered. Some of the structural design problems and load/strain criteria are described. Typical procedures governing the development and interpretation of design data, laboratory and flight tests are explained. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1978
Accession Number
ADA050763

Entities

Organizations

  • AGARD

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerodynamic Configurations
  • Air Force
  • Aircraft Equipment
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Composite Materials
  • Epoxy Laminates
  • Failure Mode And Effect Analysis
  • Fittings
  • Manufacturing
  • Materials
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Mechanical Working
  • Mechanics
  • Safety Engineering
  • Spars
  • Test And Evaluation

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Aerospace Test and Evaluation
  • Reinforced Composite Materials