Aircraft Nacelle Linking Device Shear Stress Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing connection devices for aircraft nacelles face challenges in reducing on-board mass while effectively managing shear stresses during blade breakage, leading to increased energy consumption and material usage.

Innovation Solution

The connection device features passage holes with a flared shape and adjusted sections to reduce shear forces, allowing connecting elements to deform and absorb energy, thereby minimizing the number and size of connecting elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the connecting device uses a large number of bolts or rivets with large diameter to resist shear stresses during blade breakage, then the reliability and strength of the connection is improved, but the on-board mass increases leading to greater energy consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidon-board mass
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the geometric parameters of the passage holes from cylindrical to flared shape with specific radius of curvature R1 at the junction plane. This parameter change reduces shear forces on connecting elements by a factor of 2 to 5, allowing reduction in the number and/or diameter of bolts or rivets while maintaining connection strength during blade breakage incidents

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies curvature by designing passage holes with a flared shape and a specific radius of curvature R1 at the level of the junction plane. This curved geometry redistributes stresses and reduces shear forces on connecting elements, enabling lighter connection devices that still provide adequate strength and reliability during incident conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Ease of manufacture

If the passage holes are cylindrical with sharp edges, then the manufacturing precision and ease of manufacture are improved, but the shear stresses on connecting elements increase during deformation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing easeVSAvoidshear stress
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces sharp-edged cylindrical passage holes with flared passage holes having a radius of curvature R1 at the junction plane. This curvature eliminates stress concentration at sharp edges, reducing shear stresses on connecting elements during deformation while remaining manufacturable through standard aerospace fabrication processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 design reduces shear stresses and allows for a lighter aircraft by enabling the connection device to absorb energy through plastic and elastic deformation, thereby lowering the overall mass and energy consumption.

Implementation Method 1

The connecting device can absorb part of the energy produced when the blade breaks, for example by plastic and elastic deformation of said connecting device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The connecting device can absorb part of the energy produced when the blade breaks, for example by plastic and elastic deformation of said connecting device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPlastic deformation: Plasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2481936B1Linking device more specifically suited to providing the link between an air intake and an engine of an aircraft nacelle
Publication Date: 2017.08.16 AIRBUS OPERATIONS (SAS)
  • EP2481936B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3B
  • EP2481936B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~5B
  • EP2481936B1 patent drawingFigure 6A~7B

AI summary

The device has connection elements (46) e.g. bolts or rivets, housed in passage holes (38, 44) formed in cylindrical parts to be connected, respectively. Each element comprises a rod (48) having ends provided with supports (50, 52) for holding the parts in a plated manner. Each hole includes a reduced section adjusted to a section of the rod near the corresponding support, and another section with a large clearance at a junction plane (42), such that the rod is subjected to weak shearing forces at the junction plane during relative deformation of the connected parts.