Structural members with large unidirectional rigidities

• US 5,922,446 A
• Filed: 07/15/1998
• Issued: 07/13/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Deutsches Zentrum Fã¼R Luft- Und Raumfahrt E.V.
• Original Assignee: Deutsches Zentrum Fã¼R Luft- Und Raumfahrt E.V.
• Inventors: Sigle, Christof, Pabsch, Arno, Piening, Matthias
• Primary Examiner(s): McCamish, Marion
• Assistant Examiner(s): RUDDOCK, ULA CORINNA
• Application Number:
  US09/116,092
• Time in Patent Office: 363 Days
• Field of Search: 428/292.1, 244/124, 244/123
• US Class Current: 428/292.1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 3/20 Integral or sandwich constructions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249924 Noninterengaged fiber-containing paper-free web or sheet which is not of specified porosity

Abstract

In a structural member with large unidirectional rigidities unidirectional fiber bundles are completely embedded in shear resistant sheaths. The shear resistant sheaths are joined to a shear resistant torsion shell made up of skin layers by shear resistant vertical walls. A part of the vertical walls is shaped into stringers. Dividing layers (20) interrupting the passage of tension between adjacent unidirectional fiber bundles (30) are provided between the shear resistant sheaths (31) of the unidirectional fiber bundles (30).

Claims

1. A structural member with large unidirectional rigidities including at least two unidirectional fibre bundles, each fibre bundle being completely embedded in a corresponding shear resistant sheath, the shear resistant sheaths being joined to a shear resistant torsion shell made up of skin layers by shear resistant vertical walls, part of the vertical walls being shaped into stringers, the structural member comprising:

a dividing layer provided between the shear resistant sheaths enclosing the at least two unidirectional fibre bundles, the dividing layer interrupting the passage of tension between adjacent unidirectional fibre bundles.

2. The structural member according to claim 1, wherein the vertical walls include at least an ascending skin layer and a descending skin layer, wherein the dividing layer is positioned between the ascending and descending skin layers.

3. The structural member according to claim 1, further comprising unidirectional rigidities provided above and below the unidirectional fibre bundles, the unidirectional rigidities acting across the vertical walls and having a fibre orientation across the length of the unidirectional fibre bundles.

4. The structural member according to claim 3, wherein the torsion shell includes at least one shear resistant skin layer disposed above and below the unidirectional rigidities, wherein the shear resistant skin layer prevents internal stresses in the structural member caused by heat.

5. The structural member according to claim 3, wherein the unidirectional rigidities comprise a unidirectional upper skin layer and a unidirectional lower skin layer.

6. A structural member according to claim 5, wherein the upper and lower unidirectional skin layer acting across the length of the unidirectional fibre bundles are continuous.

7. A structural member according to claim 5, wherein the upper unidirectional skin layer is interrupted in the region of the stringers and the lower unidirectional skin layer is continuous.

8. The structural member according to claim 1, wherein the torsion shell includes at least one shear resistant skin layers disposed above and below the shear resistant sheaths, wherein the shear resistant skin layer prevents internal stresses in the structural member caused by heat.

9. The structural member according to claim 8, wherein the number of shear resistant skin layers is dependent on the influence of the stringers.

10. The structural member according to claim 9, wherein an equal number of shear resistant skin layers are disposed above and below the shear resistant sheaths.

11. The structural member according to claim 10, wherein the equal number of shear resistant sheaths are of uniform thickness.

12. A structural member according to claim 1, wherein the unidirectional fibre bundles have a substantially rectangular cross-section.

13. A structural member according to 1, wherein the dividing layer is made of a material which cannot be wetted by resin.