Bulkhead Shims For Curvilinear Components

A method of assembling first and second thin-walled curvilinear components to a support structure having an axis, each component defining a faying edge, each faying edge axially spaced and radially aligned with respect to the other;

• the method comprising:
• preassembling the first component to the support structure;
• clamping a second component to the support structure with the faying edges axially spaced apart on the support structure;
• conducting a preassembly measurement of radial gaps extending circumferentially between the second component and support structure at the faying edge of the second component;
• calculating an average value of the radial gaps;
• selecting a specific shim thickness, from among prefabricated sets of shims, closest to one that corresponding to the calculated average value of the radial gaps;
• unclamping the second component to separate the edge of the second component from the support surface;
• applying a plurality of shims to the support structure, with each shim spaced circumferentially about the support structure, each shim having the selected thickness that corresponds to the average value of the radial gaps;
• and
• permanently securing the second component to the support structure, in a manner such that the faying edges of the first and second components are fixed in radial alignment with each other.

An assembly comprising first and second curvilinear aircraft components secured to a bulkhead, the bulkhead having an axis, and each component having a faying edge axially spaced from and radially aligned with the other;

• wherein the components are assembled as a product formed by a process of:
• preassembling the first component to the bulkhead;
• conducting a preassembly measurement of radial gaps between the bulkhead and the faying edge of the second component by applying predictive analytics to calculate an average value of radial gaps between the second component and the bulkhead;
• selecting a specific shim thickness, from among prefabricated sets of shims, closest to one corresponding to the calculated average radial gap value;
• applying a plurality of shims of the specific thickness selected to the bulkhead in a position prospectively determined to be under the edge of the second component, each shim spaced circumferentially about the bulkhead;
• and
• permanently securing the second of the components to the bulkhead with the plurality of shims incorporated in a manner such that that the faying edges of the first and second components are fixed in radial alignment with each other.