Method for joining a stringer to a structural component of an aircraft or spacecraft
View Patent ↗The invention relates to a method for joining an uncured stringer to a structural component of an aircraft or spacecraft. The uncured stringer is supplied with at least one joining section and at least one web section. A rapidly curing low-temperature auxiliary material is deposited on web flanks of the at least one web section, which are to be supported. The at least one joining section of the uncured stringer is fitted to the structural component. Curing of the auxiliary material then takes place at a first curing temperature in order to form cured supporting elements for the web flanks of the at least one web section, which are to be supported. Curing of the uncured stringer is undertaken at a second curing temperature which is greater than the first precuring/curing temperature, and then the deposited and cured auxiliary material is removed.
1. A method for joining an uncured stringer to a structural component of an aircraft or spacecraft, comprising the following method steps:
providing the uncured stringer, which comprises at least one joining section and at least one web section;
depositing a rapidly curing low-temperature auxiliary material on web flanks of the at least one web section, which are to be supported;
fitting the at least one joining section of the uncured stringer to the structural component;
precuring/curing the auxiliary material at a first precuring/curing temperature in order to form precured/cured supporting elements for the web flanks of the at least one web section, which are to be supported;
curing the uncured stringer at a second curing temperature which is greater than the first precuring/curing temperature; and
removing the deposited and cured auxiliary material.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary material is additionally deposited at least partially on surfaces of the joining sections that are adjacent to the web flanks.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, before the rapidly curing low-temperature auxiliary material is deposited, a separating element is deposited at least onto regions for which the auxiliary material is provided.
4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the separating element is deposited in the form of a separating film.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first precuring/curing temperature is selected as the precuring/curing temperature in such a manner that the auxiliary material obtains a rigidity required for preventing the web section from tilting, the auxiliary material simultaneously maintaining deformability in order to adapt the uncured stringer to a contour of the structural component when fitting to the same.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, before the uncured stringer is cured, a vacuum film is deposited over the uncured stringer, which is provided with the auxiliary material, and at least partially over the structural component for pressurization, under the action of heat, pressing and joining of the stringer to the structural component.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the stringer and the structural component is produced from a fiber composite material.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the stringer is at least one of a T-support and an I-shaped support.