Importance

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Abstract

Integrally stiffened skin structures (72, 88, 96) which can advantageously be substituted for structures of the honeycomb, skin-and-stringer, and integrally machined types. Exemplary of a virtually endless list of components in which the integrally stiffened skin structures can be employed are jet engine components, aircraft and missile fuselages, jet engine pods, aircraft landing brake components, components with compound curvatures such as bulkheads and fairings, flat and curved panels, and conical and other shell-like components. Materials from which the structures can be fabricated include stainless steels, superalloys, titanium and aluminum alloys, other metals, and a variety of composites including those advanced ones with a high strength-to-weight ratio. Novel features of the structures include: secondary ribs (74) for raising resonant frequencies and increasing structural stability with a minimum increase in weight; tapered ribs (98) which provide a significant weight reduction without unduly affecting their performance; and the elimination of node material. That provides an additional, significant weight reduction.

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First Claim