Durability Design Requirements and Analysis for Metallic Airframes

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Air Force durability design requirements are reviewed and durability analysis methodology capable of satisfying these requirements are presented. The proposed methodology includes (1) durability critical parts, (2) guidelines for economic life criteria, and (3) analytical procedures for quantifying overall structural damage due to fatigue cracking. Two analytical formats for quantifying economic life are proposed: probability of crack exceedance and ratio of repair cost/replacement cost. Although the analytical methodology has been developed and verified using a fastener hole crack as the prototype, the basic concepts and methodology apply to cracks in other structural details as well. The durability analysis methodology is based on a fracture mechanics philosophy, using a probabilistic format but with deterministic crack growth. The methodology accounts for initial quality, crack growth accumulation in a population of details, load spectra, and structural properties. Essential elements of the methodology are presented, including an evaluation and illustration of the analytical methodology using test results for the F-16 full-scale durability test article.
Keywords

This publication has 5 references indexed in Scilit: