Structural Techniques for Joining Filamentary Composites.

Fabrication techniques and design concepts, considering joint weight or efficiency and joint cost or manufacturing complexity, are generated to demonstrate the superiority of advanced composites boron-epoxy in complex joint applications. Major analytical and experimental efforts were directed toward support of a wing to fuselage attachment, selected as the full-scale demonstration article. The initial configuration to be fabricated and tested utilizes a conventional approach where a metallic doubler-fitting is bolted to the composite assembly. Changes in the use of boron reinforcement directly effect and are applied to an advanced concept of the wing to fuselage attachment area. An all bonded design which incorporates an integral spherical bearing is fabricated and tested as the advanced concept of the demonstration test article.