Aircraft Wing Slat Guide Rail Redundant Load Path Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft wings lack redundant main load paths, making them vulnerable to failure in case of fracture along the longitudinal axis of the guide rail, which can lead to loss of structural integrity and safety during operation.
Innovation Solution
The guide rail is reinforced with additional structures, such as pins or rods, that form redundant load paths perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, ensuring that lateral loads are distributed and carried even if the primary guide rail fails, thereby enhancing structural stability and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single guide rail primary structure is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates due to lack of redundant load paths
Solution Approach 1:
The guide rail is segmented into a primary structure and separate reinforcement elements. The primary structure provides the main load path, while discrete reinforcement elements (pins or rods) provide redundant load paths. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simplicity while introducing redundancy for improved reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement elements are pre-installed as backup structures that remain dormant during normal operation. In the event of primary structure failure, these elements automatically engage to prevent catastrophic failure, providing beforehand cushioning against potential structural collapse.
2Reliability
If reinforcement structures are added to create redundant load paths, then the reliability is improved, but the weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than reinforcing the entire guide rail structure uniformly, the reinforcement elements are strategically placed only at critical locations where redundant load paths are most needed. This localized approach provides necessary reliability improvements while minimizing additional weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide rail assembly combines different structural elements (primary structure made of rail material and reinforcement elements made of pin/rod material) to create a composite system that optimizes the strength-to-weight ratio while providing redundant load paths.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Disclosed is a wing (3) for an aircraft (1), comprising a main wing (5), a slat (7), and a connection assembly (9) movable connecting the slat (7) to the main wing (5), wherein the connection assembly (9) comprises an elongate slat track (17), wherein a front end (21) of the slat track (17) is mounted to the slat (7) and a rear end (23) and an intermediate portion (25) of the slat track (17) are mounted to the main wing (5) by a roller bearing (27), and wherein the roller bearing (27) comprises a guide rail (29) mounted to the main wing (5) and a first roller unit (31) mounted to the rear end (23) of the slat track (17) and engaging the guide rail (29). The object, to provide the wing with redundant main load paths, is achieved in that the guide rail (29) comprises a guide rail primary structure (73) engaging with the first roller unit (31), and an additional reinforcement structure (75) additionally reinforcing the guide rail primary structure (73) in a lateral direction (77), wherein the guide rail primary structure (73) forms a first main load path and the reinforcement structure (75) forms a redundant second main load path.