Composite material are becoming more widely used in modern aircrafts. I would like to know what is the technique for joining composite parts to more traditional aluminium components. Are the manufacturers still using rivets or something else?
Glue
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Airplane glue.
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Buster isn’t really kidding.
Special adhesives. (Very rigorous surface prep. is involved.)
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Glue
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Depending on the type of structure and the load involved, epoxy adhesives or mechanical fasteners.
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It depends on what part and how it needs to be attached. With most airplanes out today, composites are still too expensive to be used through out the entire airframe, I assume that you understand this already. Most composite parts are things like tail cones, radomes, stabilizing fins, etc. All those parts have a need to come off for inspection and they are held in place with screws. That is by far the most common way to see composites used today.
within the actual structure where the aluminum spars and composite surfaces (like wings) are used adhesives are common. The advantage is a smooth surface with no imperfections, but there is a huge disadvantage of maintenance. That is mitigated by planning ahead, but there are times when having a serviceable part within the structure is necessary. In those cases they either have to find an alternative way about doing things, or use rivets so they can be removed.
The composites are a lot like sheet metal as far as how they can be attached, and there really is no right or wrong way.
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