Beam Stiffener Predefined Buckling Mode Energy Absorption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aircraft and other vehicles face significant loads during landing, necessitating components with increased strength and weight, which can translate harmful forces to occupants, and existing solutions fail to effectively dissipate these loads while maintaining a lightweight structure.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of a predefined buckling mode in beams through the use of stiffeners, which are interstitially placed between flanges or frame portions, allowing for selective stiffening and energy absorption, thereby reducing the transfer of forces to occupants while maintaining a lightweight design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If components with increased strength and weight are used to mitigate loads during hard landings, then the strength and load-bearing capacity are improved, but the weight of the vehicle increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload-bearing capacityVSAvoidvehicle weight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by introducing stiffeners at specific locations within the beam structure where buckling is most likely to occur. These stiffeners locally enhance the buckling resistance and energy absorption capacity without requiring the entire beam to be uniformly strengthened, thus avoiding unnecessary weight increase while maintaining adequate load-bearing capacity during hard landings

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The beam structure is segmented into multiple sections with varying stiffener configurations. By dividing the beam into segments with different stiffness characteristics, the structure can optimize energy absorption through controlled buckling in specific zones while maintaining overall structural integrity, thereby reducing the total weight compared to a uniformly strengthened beam

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If increased strength components are used to mitigate loads, then the protection against harmful forces is improved, but the complexity of the structure increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforce transfer to occupantsVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of uniformly complex strengthening throughout the entire structure, the patent applies local quality by positioning stiffeners only in critical regions where buckling control is needed. This localized approach reduces force transfer to occupants during hard landings while keeping the overall structural complexity manageable through selective rather than universal reinforcement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Weight of moving object

If a lightweight structure is used to reduce vehicle weight, then the weight is reduced, but the energy absorption capacity during hard landings deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle weightVSAvoidenergy absorption capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The stiffeners are pre-positioned within the beam structure during manufacturing to create predetermined buckling modes. This preliminary action ensures that when hard landing loads occur, the structure has already been prepared with optimal energy dissipation pathways, allowing lightweight beams to absorb energy effectively without requiring post-manufacturing modifications or heavier materials

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes parameter changes by varying the stiffener geometry, spacing, and material properties to optimize the buckling behavior of lightweight beams. By carefully adjusting these parameters, the structure achieves enhanced energy absorption capacity through controlled buckling modes while maintaining low weight, resolving the contradiction between lightweight design and energy absorption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach effectively dissipates energy and controls modal behavior, reducing the impact of loads on occupants and structures, while being cost-effective and quick to implement, thereby enhancing safety and efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

introduce a predefined buckling mode in a beam for energy absorption

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuckling:

Data Source

PatentUS20250010972A1Structural shape mode influencers

Publication Date: 2025.01.09 THE BOEING CO

AI summary

Structural shape mode influencers are disclosed. An example apparatus to introduce a pre-defined buckling mode in a beam for energy absorption in a vehicle includes a body of the beam, the body extending along a lateral direction thereof between a first lateral side of the beam and a second lateral side of the beam, and a stiffener interstitially placed in the body, the stiffener positioned between the first and second lateral sides, the stiffener extending across at least a portion of a longitudinal direction of the body.