Periodic inspections, at a prescribed interval, for Multi-Site Damage (MS) in longitudinal fuselage lap-joints start when the aircraft has accumulated a certain number of flights, the inspection threshold. The work reported here was an attempt to obtain justification for the threshold. It is based upon an analysis of fatigue for lap-joints (riveted as well as riveted plus bonded) of a configuration closely resembling those in several types of aircraft. Depening upon the definiton of threshold, the results show that it will be around 30,000 flights. Graphs are supplied upon the basis of which airworthiness authorities can determine a threshold in accordance with their preferred definition, and for different service conditions.
Content Notes:
Introduction and scope, Available data, Distribution of initiation life in practice, Considerations for threshold, Conclusion, References
This report documents the results of the "Investigation of Fuselage Structure Subject to Widespread Fatigue Damage" contract. The primary program obje...
The report presents data on (1) residual strength of aircraft panels containing Multiple-Site Damage (MSD) in lap splices, and (2) fatigue strength of...
Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving a Bureau of Transportation
Statistics (BTS)/National Transportation Library (NTL)
Web-based service.
Thank you for visiting.
You are about to access a non-government link outside of
the U.S. Department of Transportation's National
Transportation Library.
Please note: While links to Web sites outside of DOT are
offered for your convenience, when you exit DOT Web sites,
Federal privacy policy and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation
Act (accessibility requirements) no longer apply. In
addition, DOT does not attest to the accuracy, relevance,
timeliness or completeness of information provided by linked
sites. Linking to a Web site does not constitute an
endorsement by DOT of the sponsors of the site or the
products presented on the site. For more information, please
view DOT's Web site linking policy.
To get back to the page you were previously viewing, click
your Cancel button.
United States Department of Transportation
[PDF-2.02 MB]
