SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1982
STP28854S

Long-Life Damage Tolerant Jet Transport Structures

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Criteria and procedures used in commercial aircraft design over the last two decades have produced long-life damage tolerant structures with a credible safety record. This has been achieved through diligent attention to detail design, manufacturing, maintenance, and inspection procedures. Recent updates of federal regulations governing fatigue and fail-safe strength evaluation of transport category airplane structures and advancements in the capability to analyze damaged structure have spurred new technological developments. Adaptation of traditional fatigue and fracture mechanics technologies plus a large test and service experience data base have led to development of technology control methods suitable for nonspecialist engineers.

Detection of damage before it becomes dangerous is the ultimate control in ensuring damage tolerance throughout the economic service life of the structure. Traditional damage growth and residual strength evaluations fail to incorporate damage detection parameters which influence maintenance planning. New technology is under development for proper recognition of damage detection opportunities in a fleet of aircraft with possible multiple cracking events and subjected to a multitude of inspections. Emerging damage tolerance rating systems provide efficient measurements of inspection activities and permit coordinated manufacturer/operator/certifying agency actions necessary to ensure continued structural airworthiness of existing and future jet transport fleets.

Author Information

Goranson, UG
Boeing Commercial Airplane Company, Seattle, Wash.
Hall, J
Boeing Commercial Airplane Company, Seattle, Wash.
Maclin, JR
Boeing Commercial Airplane Company, Seattle, Wash.
Watanabe, RT
Boeing Commercial Airplane Company, Seattle, Wash.
Price: $25.00
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Details
Developed by Committee: E08
Pages: 47–87
DOI: 10.1520/STP28854S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-4826-0
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-0714-4