Coated Aircraft Component Adhesion Testing by Shear Edge

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods lack an effective way to test the quality of adhesion between sheets or plates, particularly in aircraft components like rails, especially those made of lightweight metals such as aluminum, coated with materials like titanium for corrosion protection.

Innovation Solution

A method involving mounting the component on a test specimen with a recessed support surface and a shear edge, applying a tensile force to determine the detachment force of the sheet or plate, and recording the adhesive strength, using a test device with a tensile testing machine.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If existing testing methods are used for coated components, then general quality control is maintained, but direct adhesion quality assessment is not achieved and additional complex tests are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesion quality assessmentVSAvoidtesting procedure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the essential testing function by isolating the shear edge interaction from the complex coating system. The test specimen with its precisely engineered shear edge separates the adhesion measurement from other quality parameters, allowing direct assessment of bond strength between the coating sheet and substrate without requiring overlap shear or roller peel tests

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the testing parameter from complex multi-axis loading to a simple shear force application at a defined edge. By transforming the test geometry to feature a recessed support surface with a terminus forming a shear edge, the method converts difficult-to-measure adhesion properties into a direct shear force measurement that is both precise and easy to obtain

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If multiple additional tests (overlap shear, roller peel) are performed, then comprehensive quality control is achieved, but testing time and process complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality control comprehensivenessVSAvoidtesting efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The test specimen design achieves multi-functionality by combining the support surface, shear edge geometry, and force application point into a single integrated fixture. This universal test setup simultaneously provides stable mounting, precise shear force application, and direct adhesion measurement, replacing the need for multiple specialized tests while maintaining comprehensive quality control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the mounting function, force application function, and measurement function into a single integrated testing operation. The component is mounted on the test specimen with the shear edge configuration, and a single shear force measurement provides comprehensive adhesion quality assessment, combining what would otherwise require separate overlap shear and roller peel tests into one efficient procedure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Provides a direct quality assessment of the adhesion process, ensuring the integrity of the coating and bonding, without the need for additional tests like overlap shear or roller peel tests.

Implementation Method 1

Moving the component and the test specimen relative to each other in such a direction that the shear edge is pressed further against the sheet or plate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

a test specimen which has a recessed support surface terminated with a shear edge, such that the sheet or plate rests on the support surface and the shear edge rests against a narrow side of the sheet or plate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectShear stress: Shear Stress

Implementation Method 3

the adhesive force is determined by dividing the force recorded in step e) by the area of ​​the main body of the component being coated with the sheet or plate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP4703708A1Method and device for testing components coated with a sheet or a panel, in particular for aircraft
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
  • EP4703708A1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4703708A1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP4703708A1 patent drawingFigure 7~9

AI summary

For quality assurance of components (10) coated with a sheet (14) or a plate, especially for aircraft, a test procedure is proposed comprising the following steps: a) providing a component (10, 11) to be tested, b) mounting the component (10, 11) onto a test specimen (28) which has a recessed support surface (36) terminated with a shear edge (34), such that the sheet (14) or the plate rests on the support surface (36) and the shear edge (34) abuts a narrow side of the sheet (14) or plate, c) moving the main body (12) of the component (10, 11) and the test specimen (28) relative to each other in such a direction that the shear edge (34) is pressed further against the sheet (14) or the plate, and d) recording the force with which the component (10, 11) and the test specimen (28) are moved relative to each other.