Analysis of Bonded Composite Patch Repaired Metallic Structures: An Overview

Naveen Rastogi, Som R. Soni and Jason J. Denney

ABSTRACT

The enhancement of service life of aging aircraft fleets is currently a major concern for aircraft operations. This is necessary to ensure operational cost effectiveness and safety of these ageing fleets. In recent years composite materials have found their application as a reinforcement to repair cracked and damaged metallic aircraft structures. In this paper the state of art in the analysis of cracked metallic structures repaired by the bonded composite patches are discussed, and critical issues are highlighted. This work is conducted as a part of a larger effort currently underway to extend the bonded composite patch design methodology for repair of cracked/damaged metallic structures of aging aircraft fleets.