Self-Stiffened Panel Terminal Tab Assembly for Aircraft

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional self-stiffened panels in aircraft structures face challenges in assembling with surrounding structures due to the short height of ribs and high density, which prevents the use of fishplates for connection.

Innovation Solution

A structural assembly featuring terminal tabs and ribs on a self-stiffened panel, where terminal tabs are fixed to the panel's skin with through-fixing elements, allowing for a progressive transfer of inertia and effective assembly with adjacent structural elements, such as windscreen surrounds or fuselage panels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If self-stiffened panels with short ribs are used to reduce component number and mass, then the panel stiffness and mass are improved, but the ability to assemble with surrounding structures using fishplates deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepanel massVSAvoidassembly capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The structural element is segmented into multiple terminal tabs separated by cut-outs, allowing the stiffening structure to be divided into discrete connection points that can be independently assembled with the skin, enabling fishplate assembly despite short rib heights

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Terminal tabs act as intermediary elements between the short ribs and the fishplates, providing extended surfaces that facilitate the assembly connection while the ribs provide the stiffening function, thus bridging the gap between structural requirements and assembly requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If terminal tabs and terminal ribs with alternating positioning are used, then the assembly effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly effectivenessVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal tabs are merged with the structural element and the terminal ribs are merged with the stiffening structure, combining multiple functions into integrated components that reduce the number of separate parts while maintaining assembly effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal tabs serve multiple functions: they provide connection surfaces for fishplates, maintain structural integrity, and enable the alternating positioning pattern that facilitates progressive inertia transfer, making the structure adaptable to different assembly configurations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10611455B2Aircraft assembly comprising a self-stiffened panel assembled with a structural element by means of an alternation of terminal ribs and terminal tabs

Publication Date: 2020.04.07 AIRBUS OPERATIONS (SAS)

AI summary

In order to allow robust assembly between a structural element and a self-stiffened panel comprising a skin and a stiffening structure formed of a network of ribs extending out from a first face of the skin, the structural element comprises at least one end formed of terminal tabs separated by cut-outs delimited by the terminal tabs and applied to the first face of the skin at an end part of the skin. In addition, the stiffening structure comprises at least one end formed of several terminal ribs extending respectively through the cut-outs. Finally, each of the terminal tabs is fixed to the end part of the skin via through-fixing elements.