21st Congress of International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences, Melbourne, Australia, 13-18 September, 1998
Paper ICAS-98-R.4.2

ULTRASONIC ASSESSMENT OF THE RADIAL CLEARANCE OF RIVETED JOINTS IN AIRCRAFT STRUCTURES

Ryzhova T. B.
TsAGI, Zhukovsky, Russia

Keywords: ultrasonic assessment, radial clearance, riveted joints in aircraft structures

The reliability of a proposed testing method was evaluated by comparison of ultrasonic measurement results and results of residual stresses measurement. The residual stresses were measured on specimens, which were cutted from longitudinal riveted seam of full-scale aircraft wing panel that had passed a fatigue test. The value of residual stresses was measured by radiographic method. The influence of surface cut mechanical treatment on estimation of residual stresses value was excluded. the obtained data and results of their processing has confirmed the high reliability of the ultrasonic testing results The aircraft industry widely utilizes riveted joints. These may be source of fatigue damage, so their fatigue resistance should be improved -for example, by introducing large radial clearance of riveted joints radial clearance in aircraft structures.

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