Manufacturing Assembly Technics for Composite Structures

Advanced composite materials such as carbon epoxy have been eztensively utilized in the fabrication of modern high performance fighter aircraft. The introduction of composites into aircraft structures has presented many new challenging problems for the fabrication and assembly of aircraft. Totally new innovative technology had to be developed to assure practical and feasible manufacturing assembly methods for trimming, drilling, shimming, corrosion prevention, fastening and assembly of composite components. The fabrication of the thin skinned hat stiffened composite AV-SB forward fuselage assembly incorporates many of the latest manufacturing technics. This paper will detail the technologies and methods that have been implemented into the assembly line for the AV-SB fighter aircraft at McDonnell Douglas Corporation, St. Louis.