Accession Number:

ADA551101

Title:

F-111 Adhesively Bonded Repair Assessment Program (FABRAP) - Phase 1 Testing, Preliminary Results

Descriptive Note:

Technical note

Corporate Author:

DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ORGANISATION VICTORIA (AUSTRALIA) AIR VEHICLES DIV

Personal Author(s):

• Callus, Paul J.
• Chang, Paul
• Dellios, David
• Nicholson, Kelvin J.
• Rider, Andrew
• Stoyanovski, Ivan
• Yeo, Eudora

Report Date:

2011-08-01

Pagination or Media Count:

79.0

Abstract:

Adhesive bonded repairs are being used for the through-life-support of secondary and tertiary aircraft structure. This technology has not been accepted for application to primary aircraft structure due largely to the lack of a non-destructive inspection technique for, and uncertainty regarding the environmental durability of, adhesive bonds. Over the last twenty five years a large number of adhesive bonded repairs have been applied to the Royal Australian Air Force F-111 and its retirement in December 2010 represented a unique opportunity to evaluate the bonded repairs. The F-111 Adhesive Bonded Repair Assessment Program FABRAP was created to generate statistically valid data regarding the efficacy of the tap-test as a non-destructive-inspection technique and the environmental durability of adhesive bonds. In FABRAP Phase I Testing, over 300 repairs were tap tested and 820 residual strength tests conducted using a pneumatic adhesion tensile testing instrument. This report details the FABRAP process and summarises the results from the Phase I testing.

Descriptors:

• *ADHESIVE BONDING
• *AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE
• *JET FIGHTERS
• *REPAIR
• AUSTRALIA
• BONDED JOINTS
• INSPECTION
• NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING
• TEST AND EVALUATION

Subject Categories:

• Terminal Flight Facilities
• Adhesives, Seals and Binders

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE