Two - Dimensional Finite Element Analysis of Composite Patch Repairs Using Shell Laminate Elements

Abstract

A host of one and two-sided composite patch reinforcements of metallic structures with different patch thickness were considered, in order to compare two-dimensional finite element analysis using shell laminate elements with three-dimensional finite element analysis. In order to verify the accuracy of this approach a parametric study has been performed and the 2D results were compared to the outcome of the corresponding three-dimensional finite element analysis, which accuracy has been experimentally verified in previous works. It was found that for the case of two-sided reinforcement the results obtained by the two methods were in very good agreement. For the case of one-sided reinforcement some deviation of the results of two-dimensional analysis has been observed, which was due to the tendency of the structure for out-of-plane bending, resulting from the bonding of a reinforcing patch to only one face of the structure. According to the results of this parametric study and since most aircraft structures are constrained against local out-of-plane bending (e.g. aircraft skins through stringers) two-dimensional finite elements analysis using shell laminate elements is proposed as an accurate and easy to use analysis tool for the design of both one and two-sided composite patch repairs of relatively simple structures.