Changing Environment and Its Effect on Structures

The aerospace changing aerothermodynamic environment from subsonic to supersonic to hypersonic flight velocity has brought the cost environment to the foreground. The increasing performance demands for lightweight structure and the resulting increase in airframe cost are discussed. The influence of material and fabrication costs on the desired efficient structural concepts of a supersonic wing box cover are evaluated. The solid-state diffusion bonding process is presented as a potential fabrication solution to achieving the desired minimum weight structure at low airframe cost.