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Several new families of expanding mandrel type of temporary (slave) fastener are in production and/or undergoing qualification tests. These fasteners are characterized by a collapsible mandrel that expands when needed over a center spindle. These fasteners are blind (installed and removed from one side only), and they provide locating (dowel) capabilities. This paper illustrates how these new fasteners work and how they are designed. Results of some testing of nominal ¼″, flush head fasteners in carbon-fiber reinforced plastic are shown. Design criteria include the temporary fasteners clamping ability, acceptable contact stresses, cyclic fatigue life, and strength.

A simple, open, post and index system is used for final alignment and joining of the fuselage and wings of a new passenger business jet. 19 manually actuated axes precisely move the wings, forward, and rear fuselage sections into position. Movement is accomplished with industrial jacking screws and positions recorded with precision linear potentiometers. Wing sweep, angle of attack, and dihedral are monitored and controlled. The axes positions are downloaded to data files for verification and data archiving. The Gulfstream G150 Join Cell's open architecture enhances access to fasten the main aircraft structure while maintaining flight critical geometry.

This paper gives an outline of testing carried out in conjunction with Electroimpact to support the introduction of the A319/A320/A321 and A340-500/600 Panel Assembly Cells in Broughton, UK. Testing compared the percussion insert/EMR swaging of lockbolts with existing hydraulic installation methods. Tests included pre-load tension tests, ultimate tension load tests, tension fatigue tests, high-load lap shear fatigue tests, static lap shear tests, a pressure leak test, and metallurgical examination. Fastener configurations tested covered diameters from 1/4, 5/16, 3/8, and 7/16 of an inch. Joint materials conformed to ABM3-1031 (7150-T651 plate), stump-type lockbolts to ABS0550VHK (Huck LGPS4SCV), and collars to ASNA2025 (Huck 3SLC-C). Some pull-type lockbolts to ABS0548VHK (Huck LGPL4SCV) were also tested as noted.

Robotic gripper technology has been integrated into CNC riveting machines. Handling fasteners efficiently is critical in automated wing panel riveting. Computer controlled rivet gripper and collar gripper technology has been developed that demonstrates high reliability and decreased fastener cycle times

This paper details the icing wind tunnel test results of a new eddy current repulsion deicing system (EDS). There are only a trio of in-flight, anti-icing or deicing systems used on aircraft. Hot engine bleed air, electrothermal blankets, and pneumatic boots are either energy intensive or force the aircraft to fly with relatively large ice particles attached to critical aerodynamic surfaces. Several ideas have been put forward for electrical pulsed deicing systems. The EDS consumes little power, maintains ice thickness buildup less than 2.5 mm, and sheds small ice particles less than 150 mm2.