WBNH
Well-Known Member
Thoughts on Coroplast?
I made quick reference to Coroplast in the Captive Column discussion and I think it would be nice to hear some opinions on it's use as an alternative to traditional materials in Light Sport Aircraft.
I hope everyone is familiar with the stuff. In my neck of the woods, there are 4 by 8 sheets of the stuff all along the road....saying vote for someone-or-other.
It is corrugated plastic...but unlike corrugated cardboard, it seems to have uniform square channels running through it. Like a hundred I-Beams laid side by side.
It has some flexibility...and there are R/C Airplane enthusiasts using it for virtually indestructible models...
www.spadtothebone.com
They talk of various mil thick versions. Some are very flexible, some aren't.
Where would I consider using it? Leading edge wing skins...in lieu of foam false spars and nose ribs. It could add strength and rigidity...and a smooth look. If it were light enough...an entire wing could be covered in it. I think Leading edges and control surfaces in the least could benefit from it.
I could also see a way to use it for fuselage panels... Imagine taking a design such as the Capella Javelin....welded cage with a single aluminum tail boom...adding some coro bulkheads over the boom, and skins and you could create an enclosed high wing monoplane. A maintenance free skin that can be decorated with signmakers vinyl lettering/striping/etc.
Might also be applicable to the semi-scale market. I, personally would love an O-1/L-19 birddog. I think it could be made around a similar cage/boom design to the javelin.
Sure there's a weight penalty...but using its own structural rigidity would allow for few to no stringers (it has it's own internally), and few bulkheads...and it can be glued-up. Ease of construction. (and, being waterproof, it might be a better option for the person attempting the cardboard and duct tape airplane...I see a coroplast challenge coming on.)
Crazy? I think too much...
I made quick reference to Coroplast in the Captive Column discussion and I think it would be nice to hear some opinions on it's use as an alternative to traditional materials in Light Sport Aircraft.
I hope everyone is familiar with the stuff. In my neck of the woods, there are 4 by 8 sheets of the stuff all along the road....saying vote for someone-or-other.
It is corrugated plastic...but unlike corrugated cardboard, it seems to have uniform square channels running through it. Like a hundred I-Beams laid side by side.
It has some flexibility...and there are R/C Airplane enthusiasts using it for virtually indestructible models...
www.spadtothebone.com
They talk of various mil thick versions. Some are very flexible, some aren't.
Where would I consider using it? Leading edge wing skins...in lieu of foam false spars and nose ribs. It could add strength and rigidity...and a smooth look. If it were light enough...an entire wing could be covered in it. I think Leading edges and control surfaces in the least could benefit from it.
I could also see a way to use it for fuselage panels... Imagine taking a design such as the Capella Javelin....welded cage with a single aluminum tail boom...adding some coro bulkheads over the boom, and skins and you could create an enclosed high wing monoplane. A maintenance free skin that can be decorated with signmakers vinyl lettering/striping/etc.
Might also be applicable to the semi-scale market. I, personally would love an O-1/L-19 birddog. I think it could be made around a similar cage/boom design to the javelin.
Sure there's a weight penalty...but using its own structural rigidity would allow for few to no stringers (it has it's own internally), and few bulkheads...and it can be glued-up. Ease of construction. (and, being waterproof, it might be a better option for the person attempting the cardboard and duct tape airplane...I see a coroplast challenge coming on.)
Crazy? I think too much...
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