Aircraft Expansion Joint with Elastic Fiber Bead
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft expansion joints lack efficiency in accommodating thermal expansion and structural movement, leading to potential mechanical failures and increased maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
An aircraft component featuring a first and second plate section with an elastic expansion section in between, formed from an elastomeric matrix and a fiber layer, where the elastic expansion section can elastically deform to increase lateral width, and includes a bead in the fiber layer to facilitate deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid expansion joint is used to maintain structural stability, then strength and stability are improved, but the ability to accommodate thermal expansion and structural movement is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The expansion joint utilizes elastic material properties to change its physical state, allowing it to deform elastically in response to thermal expansion and structural movement while maintaining overall structural integrity. The elastic material's ability to reversibly change shape enables the joint to adapt to varying dimensions without compromising strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The expansion joint employs composite construction combining elastic materials with reinforcement elements. This composite structure provides both the flexibility needed for thermal expansion accommodation and the strength required for structural stability, resolving the contradiction between rigidity and adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a flexible expansion joint is used to accommodate movement, then adaptability is improved, but structural strength and stability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The expansion joint employs composite construction combining elastic materials with reinforcement elements. This composite structure provides both the flexibility needed for thermal expansion accommodation and the strength required for structural stability, resolving the contradiction between rigidity and adaptability.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional expansion joint designs are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but efficiency in accommodating thermal expansion is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The expansion joint utilizes elastic material properties to change its physical state, allowing it to deform elastically in response to thermal expansion and structural movement while maintaining overall structural integrity. The elastic material's ability to reversibly change shape enables the joint to adapt to varying dimensions without compromising strength.
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
The solution allows for efficient thermal expansion and structural movement, reducing mechanical failures and maintenance costs by enabling variable lateral width adjustment through elastic deformation of the expansion section.
Implementation Method 1
The elastic expansion section is configured to elastically deform to increase a lateral width between the first plate section and the second plate section when the aircraft component is placed laterally in tension
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
Figure 5A~5B
AI summary
An apparatus is provided for an aircraft which includes an aircraft component (20). The aircraft component (20) includes a first plate section (22), a second plate section (23) and an elastic expansion section (25) laterally between the first plate section (22) and the second plate section (23). The elastic expansion section (25) is configured to elastically deform to increase a lateral width (84) between the first plate section (22) and the second plate section (23). The aircraft component (20) is formed from at least an elastomeric matrix (88) and a fiber layer (90) at least partially embedded within the elastomeric matrix (88). A bead (94) is formed in the fiber layer (90) laterally between a first portion (96) of the fiber layer (90) and a second portion (98) of the fiber layer (90). The first portion (96) of the fiber layer (90) is disposed in the first plate section (22). The second portion (98) of the fiber layer (90) is disposed in the second plate section (23). The bead (94) is disposed in the elastic expansion section (25).