Pressure bulkhead made of composite material for an aircraft

Abstract

The present invention relates to a curved rear pressure bulkhead ( 1 ) made of a composite material, comprising three layers: an outer layer ( 2 ) and an inner layer ( 3 ) symmetrical with one another, which are made of a fiber laminate, and the intermediate layer or core ( 4 ) made of a lightweight material. With such a sandwich-type shape, the resulting bulkhead ( 1 ) is able to withstand the bending loads coming from the strain and pressurization of the fuselage without having to increase its stiffness by means of using some type of stiffener. The bulkhead ( 1 ) comprises a ring ( 6 ) that is attached to the ends of the sandwich shape. This ring ( 6 ) is split into several parts ( 8 ) to facilitate the assembly of the bulkhead ( 1 ) made of composite material to the fuselage skin ( 5 ).

1 . A rear pressure bulkhead ( 1 ) for aircraft fuselage made of a composite material, characterized in that it comprises three layers: an outer layer ( 2 ) formed by a fiber laminate, an inner layer ( 3 ) formed by a fiber laminate and an intermediate layer or core ( 4 ) made of a lightweight material, the laminates of the outer layer ( 2 ) and inner layer ( 3 ) being symmetrical with one another. 
     
     
         2 . A rear pressure bulkhead ( 1 ) for aircraft fuselage made of a composite material according to  claim 1 , characterized in that its end ( 9 ) is formed by a fiber laminate. 
     
     
         3 . A rear pressure bulkhead ( 1 ) for aircraft fuselage made of a composite material according to  claims 1 , characterized in that it comprises a ring ( 6 ) divided into pieces ( 8 ) to which the ends ( 9 ) of the bulkhead ( 1 ) are fixed so as to attach the bulkhead ( 1 ) to the aircraft fuselage. 
     
     
         4 . A rear pressure bulkhead ( 1 ) for aircraft fuselage made of a composite material according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the core ( 4 ) is foam. 
     
     
         5 . A rear pressure bulkhead ( 1 ) for aircraft fuselage made of a composite material according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the core ( 4 ) is honeycomb-like. 
     
     
         6 . A rear pressure bulkhead ( 1 ) for aircraft fuselage made of a composite material according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the composite material is CFRP. 
     
     
         7 . A rear pressure bulkhead ( 1 ) for aircraft fuselage made of a composite material according to  claim 1 , characterized in that there is an adhesive layer between the outer layer ( 2 ) and the core ( 4 ) and between the inner layer ( 3 ) and the core ( 4 ). 
     
     
         8 . A manufacturing process for manufacturing a rear pressure bulkhead ( 1 ) made of composite material according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises the following steps:
 a) curing the layer of the core  4  with a planar plate shape   b) heat machining and forming the layer of the core  4  so that it acquires its final shape;   c) stabilizing the layer of the core  4  so that its shape is not modified during the final curing of the bulkhead  1 ;   d) laminating the outer and inner laminates  2 ,  3  of the bulkhead  1  with a fiber placement machine or manually on a male jig on both sides of the layer of the core  4 ;   e) curing the assembly of the laminates  2 ,  3  and the core  4  in an autoclave.