BBerson
Light Plane Philosopher
I have the new book:"The Birth of the 787 Dreamliner" (large book, mostly pictures, from the local library)
What was interesting to me was the photos that clearly show many parts where the composite skin is riveted to composite ribs and spars (just like a sheet metal airplane) instead of the usual composite bonding. The wing flaps were drilled and riveted, for example, and also the nose cone of the fuselage.
The Boeing book says the special fasteners look like traditional rivets but are not rivets: "They are two piece mechanical fasteners. We actually invented the fasteners used to put the airplane together because of limited access to the areas of the airplane where they were needed and the unique nature of the [composite] material".
Anyway, I remember suggesting that bonded composite airplane skins should get some rivets in the construction to prevent the total disbond that I had noticed on a crashed composite LSA airplane. My suggestion for " disbond preventing rivets" was shot down by members on this forum at that time.
But, it looks to me that Boeing likes fasteners for composites. The book doesn't say why they use fasteners, however.
Any comments?
Bill
What was interesting to me was the photos that clearly show many parts where the composite skin is riveted to composite ribs and spars (just like a sheet metal airplane) instead of the usual composite bonding. The wing flaps were drilled and riveted, for example, and also the nose cone of the fuselage.
The Boeing book says the special fasteners look like traditional rivets but are not rivets: "They are two piece mechanical fasteners. We actually invented the fasteners used to put the airplane together because of limited access to the areas of the airplane where they were needed and the unique nature of the [composite] material".
Anyway, I remember suggesting that bonded composite airplane skins should get some rivets in the construction to prevent the total disbond that I had noticed on a crashed composite LSA airplane. My suggestion for " disbond preventing rivets" was shot down by members on this forum at that time.
But, it looks to me that Boeing likes fasteners for composites. The book doesn't say why they use fasteners, however.
Any comments?
Bill
