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A study into the ability of SPD to restore the buckling strength and modes of rib stiffened panels with simulated stress corrosion cracks

Rhys Jones (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Australia)
Neil Matthews (Department of Research and Technology, RUAG Australia, Melbourne, Australia)
Daren Peng (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Australia)
Nicholas Orchowski (Department of Research and Technology, RUAG Australia, Melbourne, Australia)

International Journal of Structural Integrity

ISSN: 1757-9864

Article publication date: 6 February 2017

160

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the results of a combined numerical and experimental study into the ability of supersonic particle deposition (SPD) to restore the load carrying capacity of rib stiffened wing planks with simulated stress corrosion cracking (SCC).

Design/methodology/approach

In this context the experimental results reveal that SCC can result in a dramatic reduction in the load carrying capacity of the structure and catastrophic failure via cracking that tears the length of the structure through buckling. A combined numerical and experimental study then reveals how this reduction, in the load carrying capacity can be overcome by using SPD.

Findings

This paper is the first to show that SPD can be used to restore the load carrying capacity of rib stiffened structures with SCC. It also shows that SPD repairs can be designed to have only a minimal effect on the local stiffness and hence on the load path. However, care should be taken to ensure that the design is such that premature failure of the SPD does not occur.

Originality/value

This is the first paper to show that a thin layer of SPD deposited 7,075 aluminium alloy powder on either side of the SCC-simulated stiffener has the potential to restore the load carrying capability of a rib stiffened structure. As such it represents an important first step into establishing the potential for SPD to restore the buckling strength of rib stiffened wing panels containing SCC.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank SQNLDR Adam Bowler (RAAF) and Dustin Edwards (Airbus Group Australia Pacific) for providing the test specimens.

Citation

Jones, R., Matthews, N., Peng, D. and Orchowski, N. (2017), "A study into the ability of SPD to restore the buckling strength and modes of rib stiffened panels with simulated stress corrosion cracks", International Journal of Structural Integrity, Vol. 8 No. 1, pp. 63-78. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSI-09-2015-0037

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited

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