Traditional airframe primary structure is fabricated from wrought product forms that are transformed by machining, forming, and joining into structural components. These individual parts are assembled together by fasteners to create the airframe. Significant cost and cycle-time savings can be achieved by switching from multipiece builtup assembly to a single-piece net shape casting. The reduction in number of discrete parts provides a significant reduction in both direct and indirect costs. In particular, the inherent low material costs and excellent producibility characteristics of cast metallic parts may provide a significant contribution to the goal to reduce acquisition costs. Under the program reported herein, and in conjunction with a casting vendor, prototype titanium (Ti-6Al-4V) cast airframe components were designed and fabricated. The typical overall dimensions of each casting are and weigh approximately 190 pounds per casting. The castings were modeled on generic aircraft fuselage structure, that incorporated smooth inner moldline surface and integral webs and keels, capped by a T-element, web stiffeners, access holes, and other detail features. Multiple castings are joined to create the airframe structure. A rapid prototyping method was utilized to create the pattern, which eliminated the requirement for expensive metal tooling. The prototype castings successfully demonstrated the producibility of this generic airframe structure.
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January 2003
Technical Papers
Design Development of Unitized Titanium Structure
D. Groneck,
D. Groneck
The Boeing Company, M/C S064-2400, St. Louis, MO 63166-0516
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D. Harmon
D. Harmon
PCC Structurals, Inc., Portland, OR
Search for other works by this author on:
D. Groneck
The Boeing Company, M/C S064-2400, St. Louis, MO 63166-0516
D. Harmon
PCC Structurals, Inc., Portland, OR
Contributed by the International Gas Turbine Institute (IGTI) of THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS for publication in the ASME JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING FOR GAS TURBINES AND POWER. Paper presented at the International Gas Turbine and Aeroengine Congress and Exhibition, New Orleans, LA, June 4–7, 2001; Paper 2001-GT-450. Manuscript received by IGTI, Dec. 2000, final revision, Mar. 2001. Associate Editor: R. Natole.
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. Jan 2003, 125(1): 252-256 (5 pages)
Published Online: December 27, 2002
Article history
Received:
December 1, 2000
Revised:
March 1, 2001
Online:
December 27, 2002
Citation
Groneck, D., and Harmon, D. (December 27, 2002). "Design Development of Unitized Titanium Structure ." ASME. J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. January 2003; 125(1): 252–256. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1494099
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