Additive metal solutions to aircraft skin corrosion

Abstract

This paper focuses on the problem of skin corrosion on the upper wing surfaces of rib stiffened aircraft. For maritime and military transport aircraft this often results in multiple co located repairs. The common approach to corrosion damage in operational aircraft is to blend out the corrosion and rivet a mechanical doubler over the region. In particular this paper describes the results of a combined numerical and experimental investigation into the ability of the additive metal technology, Supersonic Particle Deposition (SPD), to restore the load carrying capacity of rib stiffened wing planks with simulated skin corrosion. The experimental results reveal that unrepaired skin corrosion can result in failure by yielding. The experimental results also reveal that SPD repairs to skin corrosion can restore the stress field in the structure, and can ensure that the load carrying capability of the repaired structure is above proof load.