Titanium foil ply replacement in layup of composite skin
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsWillard Westre, David W. Evans, Edward Li, Marc J. Piehl, Eric Sager
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Abstract
Laminate structures and methods for forming same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a laminate structure includes a metal-polymer composite lamina. The metal-polymer composite lamina has a first face and a second face spaced apart, and extends to a terminal edge. The lamina includes a ply of fiber-reinforced polymer that extends between the first face and the second face and has an interior edge. The interior edge defines at least one cutout. A ply of metal foil extends between the first face and the second face substantially from the interior edge filling the at least one cutout.
Claims28
A laminate structure, comprising:
- a first region having a non-uniform thickness, the first region including:
- a first layer having:
- a first portion of a non-metallic material, the first portion at least partially encompassing a cutout region;
- a second portion of a metallic material formed within the cutout region, the second portion abutting the first portion;
- a second layer adjacent the first layer that non-interruptably extends along the first layer, the second layer being formed from a non-metallic material;
- and
- a third layer having a first portion of a non-metallic material, the first portion at least partially encompassing a cutout region, and a second portion of a metallic material formed within the cutout region, the second portion being co-planar with the first portion, and wherein the second layer is disposed between the first and third layers.
A laminate structure comprising:
- a first region having a non-uniform thickness, the first region including:
- a metal-polymer lamina, the metal-polymer lamina having a first face and a second face spaced apart from the first face, extending to a terminal edge, the lamina including:
- a ply of fiber-reinforced polymer extending between the first face and the second face and having at least one interior edge, the interior edge defining at least one cutout;
- a ply of metal foil extending between the first face and the second face substantially from the interior edge to fill the at least one cutout;
- and
- a polymer lamina adjacent the metal-polymer lamina, the polymer lamina having a third face and a fourth face spaced apart from the third face, the polymer lamina including a ply of fiber-reinforced polymer that extends between the third face and the fourth face and extends non-interruptably along the metal-polymer lamina and substantially to the terminal edge.
A laminate structure comprising:
- a first region having a non-uniform thickness, the first region including:
- a metal-polymer lamina, the metal-polymer lamina having a first face and a second face spaced apart from the first face, extending to a terminal edge, the lamina including:
- a ply of fiber-reinforced polymer extending between the first face and the second face and having an interior edge, the interior edge defining at least one cutout;
- and
- a ply of metal foil extending between the first face and the second face substantially from the interior edge to fill the at least one cutout;
- a fiber-reinforced polymer lamina, the polymer lamina having a third face and a fourth face spaced apart, extending to the terminal edge, the lamina including:
- a ply of fiber-reinforced polymer extending non-interruptably along the metal-polymer lamina and substantially to the terminal edge;
- and
- an adhesive resin interposed between the metal-polymer lamina and the fiber-reinforced polymer lamina to adhesively couple the metal-polymer lamina to the fiber-reinforced polymer lamina.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.