Aerodynamic Load Attachment with Redundant Dual Load Paths
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing load transmission systems in aerodynamic structures, such as aircraft components, face challenges with load peaks at fastening elements like bolts, leading to high tension forces and requiring improved design for redundancy and stability.
Innovation Solution
A load introduction system with a dual independent load path through separate attachment elements, each with a mounting interface and opening, allowing for redundant load transmission without interference, using fastening elements like screws or rivets to secure the attachment unit to the aerodynamic component.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single attachment element is used to couple aerodynamic components, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability and redundancy of load transmission deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment unit is divided into multiple attachment elements (first attachment element, second attachment element, etc.), each providing an independent load transmission path. This segmentation allows the system to maintain reliability through redundancy while managing complexity by using standardized, modular attachment element designs that can be systematically assembled.
2Stability of the object's composition
If multiple attachment elements with independent load paths are used, then the redundancy and stability of load transmission is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment unit is segmented into multiple independent attachment elements, each forming a separate load path from the skin section/protrusion to the base unit. This segmentation provides stability and redundancy as loads can be distributed across multiple independent paths, preventing single-point failures while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces redundancy by adding attachment elements in a dimensional sense - not just increasing the size of a single element, but adding parallel load paths that operate in the same functional dimension. This allows the system to achieve enhanced stability through multiple simultaneous load paths without requiring any single element to be overly complex.
3Ease of manufacture
If fastening elements like bolts are used to couple components, then the ease of manufacture and assembly is improved, but stress concentrations and load peaks occur at the fastening elements
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the load transmission into multiple independent paths through separate attachment elements, the stress concentration at any single fastening element is reduced. Each attachment element distributes a portion of the total load, preventing excessive stress peaks at individual bolts or fasteners while maintaining ease of assembly through standardized fastening procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality by optimizing the load distribution at critical locations - each attachment element is designed to locally manage and distribute loads through its specific fastening elements, preventing stress concentrations from propagating through the entire structure. This localized load management maintains ease of manufacture while reducing stress peaks.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a load introduction system (1) comprising an aerodynamic component (10) and an attachment unit (20). The attachment unit (20) comprises a first and a second attachment element (21, 22), each of the first and the second attachment element (21, 22) having a mounting interface (21a, 22a) that mounts the attachment unit (20) to a skin section (12) and to a protrusion (16) of the aerodynamic component (10). The first and the second attachment element (21, 22) are in contact with each other via respective contact surfaces (21b, 22b) and both attachment elements (21, 22) have a first opening (21c, 22c) for receiving a coupling mechanism (31) of a base unit (30). The first openings (21c, 22c) coaxially align with each other and cooperatively receive the coupling mechanism (31). The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing a load introduction system (1).