Composite Bead With Neck For Visual Impact Damage Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Composite material components in aerospace and automotive applications are vulnerable to impact damage, making it difficult to assess the severity of damage through visual inspection, and existing solutions either require complex non-destructive testing or provide inadequate protection against impacts.

Innovation Solution

A composite material component design featuring a radially outward bead with a structurally weaker neck, where the bead absorbs impacts and visible damage in the neck indicates the magnitude and location of the impact, allowing for visual assessment of the component's suitability for continued use while minimizing damage to the main portion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If complex non-destructive inspection techniques (ultra-sound or X-ray) are used to assess impact damage, then measurement precision of damage is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedamage assessment accuracyVSAvoidinspection process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs visual inspection methods where damage indicators change color or appearance to signal impact damage. The matrix material or embedded indicators exhibit visible color changes when cracks or delamination occur, allowing operators to quickly assess damage without complex equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The component performs self-diagnosis through visible damage indicators that automatically appear when impact damage occurs. The structure itself provides the inspection function through visual cues such as color-changing matrix material or exposed fibers, eliminating the need for external complex inspection equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Strength

If the component size and weight are increased to improve impact resistance, then strength is improved, but weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact resistanceVSAvoidcomponent weight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes composite material structures with multiple layers including fiber reinforcement and matrix materials of different properties. This composite construction provides enhanced impact resistance through the synergistic effects of different materials without proportionally increasing weight, as the structure optimizes material distribution and utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements localized reinforcement strategies where additional protective layers or stronger materials are applied specifically to areas most susceptible to impact damage. This allows the component to achieve necessary impact resistance at critical locations without uniformly increasing the weight of the entire component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If a protective shroud is incorporated to enhance impact protection, then strength is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact protectionVSAvoidcomponent structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates impact protection functions directly into the component structure itself rather than adding separate protective shrouds. The protective features are merged with the functional structure, such as incorporating impact-absorbing layers within the composite laminate or designing the component geometry to inherently deflect or absorb impact forces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent designs the component structure to serve multiple functions simultaneously - the same structural elements that provide mechanical functionality also provide impact protection. For example, the composite laminate layers both transmit mechanical loads and absorb impact energy, eliminating the need for dedicated protective add-ons.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Ease of operation

If micro-capsules containing dye are incorporated to indicate impact, then ease of operation for damage detection is improved, but measurement precision of impact magnitude is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedamage detection simplicityVSAvoidimpact magnitude assessment

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Data Source

PatentEP2783221B1Composite material component

Publication Date: 2016.09.14 CROMPTON TECH GROUP

Figure 1~2

AI summary

A composite material component is described which comprises a core (18) impregnated by and embedded within a matrix material (20) to define a main portion (12) and a radially outwardly extending bead (14) encircling the main portion (12), the bead (14) being separated from the main portion (12) by a reduced thickness neck (16), wherein the neck (16) is structurally weaker than the bead (14).