Thermo-mechanical design aspects for primary composite structures of large transport aircraft

Thermo-mechanical design aspects for primary carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP) components, especially wings, of future large transport aircraft are discussed. Numerical simulations of the heating of a wing under intensive sun irradiation and of cooling during taxiing and take-off result in the recommendation of an appropriate design temperature. The study of flat stringer-stiffened panels reveals the influence of imperfections and boundary conditions on the buckling load under simultaneous thermal and mechanical loading. (C) 2001 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.