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Propagation analysis of variation for fuselage structures in multi-station aircraft assembly

Liang Cheng (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China and Key Laboratory of Advanced Manufacturing Technology of Zhejiang Province, College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China and The State Key Lab of Fluid Power Transmission and Mechatronic Systems, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China)
Qing Wang (The State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power Transmission and Control, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China and Key Laboratory of Advanced Manufacturing Technology of Zhejiang Province, College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China)
Jiangxiong Li (The State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power Transmission and Control, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China and Key Laboratory of Advanced Manufacturing Technology of Zhejiang Province, College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China)
Yinglin Ke (The State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power Transmission and Control, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China and Key Laboratory of Advanced Manufacturing Technology of Zhejiang Province, College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China)

Assembly Automation

ISSN: 0144-5154

Article publication date: 3 January 2018

Issue publication date: 23 January 2018

390

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to present a modeling and analysis approach for multi-station aircraft assembly to predict assembly variation. The variation accumulated in the assembly process will influence the dimensional accuracy and fatigue life of airframes. However, in digital large aircraft assembly, variation propagation analysis and modeling are still unresolved issues.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on an elastic structure model and variation model of multistage assembly in one station, the propagation of key characteristics, assembly reference and measurement errors are introduced. Moreover, the reposition and posture coordination are considered as major aspects. The reposition of assembly objects in a different assembly station is described using transformation and blocking of coefficient matrix in finite element equation. The posture coordination of the objects is described using homogeneous matrix multiplication. Then, the variation propagation model and analysis of large aircraft assembly are established using a discrete system diagram.

Findings

This modeling and analysis approach for multi-station aircraft assembly reveals the basic rule of variation propagation between adjacent assembly stations and can be used to predict assembly variation or potential dimension problems at a preliminary assembly phase.

Practical implications

The modeling and analysis approaches have been used in a transport aircraft project, and the calculated results were shown to be a good prediction of variation in the actual assembly.

Originality/value

Although certain simplifications and assumptions have been imposed, the proposed method provides a better understanding of the multi-station assembly process and creates an analytical foundation for further work on variation control and tolerance optimization.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.51375442), National Natural Science Creative Foundation of China (No. 51521064) and China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2016M591994). They would also like to thank the editors and the anonymous referees for their insightful comments.

Citation

Cheng, L., Wang, Q., Li, J. and Ke, Y. (2018), "Propagation analysis of variation for fuselage structures in multi-station aircraft assembly", Assembly Automation, Vol. 38 No. 1, pp. 67-76. https://doi.org/10.1108/AA-03-2017-031

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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