NDTnet 1998 Aug, Vol.3 No.8

Full-Text - Abstract

The current generation of civil aircraft is designed for an operation of at least 20 to 25 years and up to 90 000 flight cycles. Future aircraft types will be designed for at least the same design service goals, but the structure has to be developed for better durability, enhanced damage tolerance behavior and better corrosion resistance to fulfill the forthcoming regulations, the airlines' requirements regarding lower maintenance costs and further requirements to reach industry standard.

This paper describes the development of the airworthiness regulations related to the fatigue aspects and the future changes, which take into account several in-service incidents and the aging aircraft issue. The compliance with the current and future regulations regarding damage tolerance and fatigue evaluation is explained for different types of structure as damage tolerant and safe life.

For most of the structures the inspection program for in-service aircraft is the only way to ensure damage tolerance. Details about the development and the calculations are given for the different categories of damage tolerance structure, i.e. single load path and multiple load path. The ultimate control in ensuring the damage tolerance characteristics of structure is the detection of damage before it can reduce the overall structural strength below the required level.

An important means of damage detection is the non destructive inspection (NDI). NDI is often the only possibility to provide inspectability of hidden areas, to provide acceptable inspection intervals by detection of small damages and to clarify the status of the structure prior to the installations of repairs or modifications. Various applications are presented using examples of the current Airbus structure. Furthermore an outlook to the importance of NDI for future projects containing new materials and new design principles is given.

Abstract Source:
Book of Abstracts, 7th European Conference on Non-Destructive Testing, 26-29 May 1998, ISBN: 87-986898-0-00

Full-Text Source:
Proceedings of the 7th European Conference on Non-Destructive Testing, 26-29 May 1998, ISBN:

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