Attaching Skins to Airframes 1

[Billm1]

Where can I find information on attaching aluminum skins to a frame? This frame will be in the air stream. I would like to fine the different methods for attachment and about any corrosion issues.

 

[Sparweb]

The FAA has published an Advisory Circular called AC 43.13. A search on the web should produce a pdf copy fairly quickly. It's the how-to of riveting in the aircraft industry. As for loads, corrosion, design requirements, there's lots, lots, lots, lots, lots more...


STF

 

[StressTheGame]

When you're talking about attaching a frame out in the airstream, I wonder which sorts of loads you will expose this frame to. Usually "frames", in their classical definition, are intended to transfer their loads via shear-clips to their adjacent skin. If you introduce what could be termed as out-of-plane loads, you will have to deal with an unstable frame and should be address by a method that would account in some way with the concept known as "instability of outstanding flanges". An alternative to such an excercise would be to have two frames with an intercostal tying them and the adjacent skin together to have more of a shear-loading load-transfer scenario (more stable and easier to analyse)

 

[Nigel]

If this is a modification to an aircraft you will need approval from your civil aviation authority.


Nigel Waterhouse & Associates
Aeronautical Consulting Engineers

Transport Canada and F.A.A approval & certification of fixed and rotor wing aircraft alterations: Structures, Systems, Powerplants and electrical. FAA PMA, TC PDA.
n_a_waterhouse@hotmail.com

 

[soviet555]

Does anyone know if the skin could be attached using a special purpose adhesive?

 

[ElTigre]

Aluminum materials such as a 2024 dural would traditionally be attached by fasteners such as rivets or bolts.
As pointed out already, there are many design issues to take into account when selecting joining methods such as static strength and fatigue etc. There is some good design consideration information on the FAA site, try searching for the Repair Assessment Program (RAPID) software and traditional texts such Mil-Handbook-5 would also be helpful.

Metal to metal bonding is also very common - basically an adhesive (such as Redux) that is cured under heat and pressure. Good manufacturing technique, but difficult to repair in primary structure.

All standard text book stuff.