Bonded Repair Technology for Aging Aircraft
Abstract
NATO weapons systems are being extended well beyond their design lives due to decreases in defense budgets and the rising costs associated with procuring new hardware. This situation makes it increasingly important that methods for extending the lives of these weapon systems in a cost-effective manner be developed and implemented to the greatest extent possible. Adhesive bonding technology, particularly bonded composite repairs/enhancements, has been successfully applied by several nations to extend the lives of aircraft by bridging cracks in metal structure, reducing strain levels, and repairing areas thinned by corrosion. Bonded composite reinforcements are highly efficient and cost effective when compared to conventional mechanically fastened approaches. In some cases, bonded repair technology is the only alternative to retiring a component. This technology has already resulted in the documented savings of hundreds of millions of dollars in Australia and the United States. This paper describes the advantages of bonded composite repairs over conventional repair methods. Bonded joint design/analysis, installation procedures, nondestructive inspection, certification issues, and other key aspects of the technology are generally addressed. Examples of applications to aircraft are used to illustrate these issues as well as demonstrate bonded repair advantages. The capabilities and resources required to successfully apply bonded repairs are discussed. Finally, several recent reviews of this technology area are summarized to indicate where the key scientific gaps remain and to suggest research that should be undertaken to further enhance the usefulness of the technology.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADP014082
Entities
People
- Alan Baker
- James Mazza
- Richard Chester
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory