STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF BULKHEAD PATCH REPAIR DUE TO HEAT DAMAGE

Abstract

The integrity of the aircraft structure after a permanent repair requires thorough engineering analysis. In this study, the aircraft’s defective Bulkhead was damaged due to heat exposure and repaired with a patching technique known as a bulkhead patch repair. The study aimed to analyse the repair carried out using numerical calculation and finite element analysis. The first result of the numerical calculation shows that the repair part (stainless steel) will restore the original part (AA7050) strength capability. The second result from the LS-Dyna analysis shows that heat damage had caused the material (AA7050) strength to deteriorate significantly. The final loads testing using LS-Dyna analysis on components shows the patch repair scheme conducted was capable of strengthening the damaged part by transferring the applied loads to repair part. The outcome of this study justified that for better maintenance action (structural integrity consideration), the damaged Y453 Bulkhead needed to be replaced instead of conducting permanent repair.