Joint for a metal airplane skin using metal matrix composite

Abstract

A joint for a metallic skin structure includes a first end portion and a second end portion positioned in an overlying relationship with each other. A first row of a first plurality of bores, within the first end portion, have adjacent bores spaced apart from one another. A second row of a second plurality of bores, within the second end portion have adjacent bores spaced apart from one another. First common central axis is defined by a first bore of each of the first and second plurality of bores. Second common central axis is defined by a second bore of each of the first and second plurality of bores. A line of securement extends between the first and second common central axes. At least one reinforcement fiber embedded within one of the first or second end portion extending orthogonal to and on either side of the line of securement.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A joint for a metallic skin structure, comprising:
 a first end portion;   a second end portion, wherein the first end portion and the second end portion are positioned in an overlying relationship with each other, wherein:
 a first plurality of bores is positioned in a first row within the first end portion, such that adjacent bores within the first plurality of bores are spaced apart from one another; 
 a second plurality of bores is positioned in a second row within the second end portion, such that adjacent bores within the second plurality of bores are spaced apart from one another; and 
 a first bore of the first plurality of bores and a first bore of the second plurality of bores have a first common central axis and a second bore of the first plurality of bores, positioned adjacent and spaced apart from the first bore of the first plurality of bores, and a second bore of the second plurality of bores, positioned adjacent to and spaced apart from the first bore of the second plurality of bores, have a second common central axis, such that a line of securement extends between the first common central axis and the second common central axis; and 
   at least one reinforcing fiber embedded, within one of the first end portion or the second end portion, and extends from a first side of the line of securement to an opposing second side of the line of securement orthogonal relative to the line of securement.   
     
     
         2 . The joint of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a diameter of the at least one reinforcing fiber is in a range from fifty ten-thousandths of an inch (0.0050 inch) to sixty ten-thousandths of an inch (0.0060 inch);   the at least one reinforcing fiber comprises one of aramid, ceramic, or silicon carbide; and   the at least one reinforcing fiber is embedded within the at least one of the first end portion or the second end portion at a depth of at least one thousandth of an inch (0.001 inch).   
     
     
         3 . The joint of  claim 1 , wherein a first fastener extends through the first bore of the first plurality of bores and through the first bore of the second plurality of bores. 
     
     
         4 . The joint of  claim 3 , the first fastener comprises a rivet. 
     
     
         5 . The joint of  claim 1 , wherein a second fastener extends through the second bore of the first plurality of bores and through the second bore of the second plurality of bores. 
     
     
         6 . The joint of  claim 5 , wherein the second fastener comprises a rivet. 
     
     
         7 . The joint of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one reinforcing fiber comprises a plurality of adjacent reinforcing fibers which are spaced apart from one another and embedded within the first end portion;   the plurality of the adjacent reinforcing fibers embedded within the first end portion are positioned closer to a first surface of the first end portion than to a second surface of the first end portion; and   at least a portion of the plurality of adjacent reinforcing fibers embedded closer to the first surface than to the second surface of the first end portion extends from the first side of the line of securement to the opposing second side of the line of securement and extends between the first bore and the second bore of the first plurality of bores.   
     
     
         8 . The joint of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the at least one reinforcing fiber comprises a plurality of adjacent reinforcing fibers which are spaced apart from one another and embedded within the first end portion closer to the second surface of the first end portion than to the first surface of the first end portion; and   at least a portion of the plurality of adjacent reinforcing fibers embedded closer to the second surface than to the first surface of the first end portion extends from the first side of the line of securement to the opposing second side of the line of securement and extends between the first bore and the second bore of the first plurality of bores.   
     
     
         9 . The joint of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one reinforcing fiber comprises a plurality of adjacent reinforcing fibers which are spaced apart from one another and embedded within the second end portion;   the plurality of the adjacent reinforcing fibers embedded within the second end portion are positioned closer to a first surface of the second end portion than to a second surface of the second end portion; and   at least a portion of the plurality of adjacent reinforcing fibers embedded closer to the first surface than to the second surface of the second end portion extends from the first side of the line of securement to the opposing second side of the line of securement and extends between the first bore and the second bore of the second plurality of bores.   
     
     
         10 . The joint of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the at least one reinforcing fiber comprises a plurality of adjacent reinforcing fibers which are spaced apart from one another and embedded within the second end portion closer to the second surface of the second end portion than to the first surface of the second end portion; and   at least a portion of the plurality of adjacent reinforcing fibers embedded closer to the second surface than to the first surface of the second end portion extends from the first side of the line of securement to the opposing second side of the line of securement and extends between the first bore and the second bore of the second plurality of bores.   
     
     
         11 . A method for fabricating a joint for a metallic skin structure of  claim 1 , the method comprising steps of:
 positioning a first end portion in overlapping relationship to a second end portion, wherein:
 a first plurality of bores is positioned in a first row within the first end portion, such that adjacent bores within the first plurality of bores are spaced apart from one another; 
 a second plurality of bores is positioned in a second row within the second end portion, such that adjacent bores within the second plurality of bores are spaced apart from one another; and 
 a first bore of the first plurality of bores and a first bore of the second plurality of bores have a first common central axis and a second bore of the first plurality of bores, positioned adjacent and spaced apart from the first bore of the first plurality of bores, and a second bore of the second plurality of bores, positioned adjacent to and spaced apart from the first bore of the second plurality of bores, have a second common central axis, such that a line of securement extends between the first common central axis and the second common central axis; and 
   embedding at least one reinforcing fiber within one of the first end portion or the second end portion and extends from a first side of the line of securement to an opposing second side of the line of securement orthogonal relative to the line of securement.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 a diameter of the at least one reinforcing fiber is in a range from fifty ten-thousandths of an inch (0.0050 inch) to sixty ten-thousandths of an inch (0.0060 inch);   the at least one reinforcing fiber comprises one of aramid, ceramic, or silicon carbide; and   the at least one reinforcing fiber is embedded within the at least one of the first end portion or the second end portion at a depth of at least one thousandth of an inch (0.001 inch).   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further includes positioning a first fastener to extend through the first bore of the first plurality of bores and through the first bore of the second plurality of bores. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first fastener comprises a rivet. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further includes positioning a second fastener to extend through the second bore of the first plurality of bores and through the second bore of the second plurality of bores. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the second fastener comprises a rivet. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the at least one reinforcing fiber comprises a plurality of adjacent reinforcing fibers which are spaced apart from one another and embedded within the first end portion;   the plurality of the adjacent reinforcing fibers embedded within the first end portion are positioned closer to a first surface of the first end portion than to a second surface of the first end portion; and   at least a portion of the plurality of adjacent reinforcing fibers embedded closer to the first surface than to the second surface of the first end portion extends from the first side of the line of securement to the opposing second side of the line of securement and extends between the first bore and the second bore of the first plurality of bores.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the at least one reinforcing fiber comprises a plurality of adjacent reinforcing fibers which are spaced apart from one another and embedded within the first end portion closer to the second surface of the first end portion than to the first surface of the first end portion; and   at least a portion of the plurality of adjacent reinforcing fibers embedded closer to the second surface than to the first surface of the first end portion extends from the first side of the line of securement to the opposing second side of the line of securement and extends between the first bore and the second bore of the first plurality of bores.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the at least one reinforcing fiber comprises a plurality of adjacent reinforcing fibers which are spaced apart from one another and embedded within the second end portion;   the plurality of the adjacent reinforcing fibers embedded within the second end portion are positioned closer to a first surface of the second end portion than to a second surface of the second end portion; and   at least a portion of the plurality of adjacent reinforcing fibers embedded closer to the first surface than to the second surface of the second end portion extends from the first side of the line of securement to the opposing second side of the line of securement and extends between the first bore and the second bore of the second plurality of bores.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the at least one reinforcing fiber comprises a plurality of adjacent reinforcing fibers which are spaced apart from one another and embedded within the second end portion closer to the second surface of the second end portion than to the first surface of the second end portion; and   at least a portion of the plurality of adjacent reinforcing fibers embedded closer to the second surface than to the first surface of the second end portion extends from the first side of the line of securement to the opposing second side of the line of securement and extends between the first bore and the second bore of the second plurality of bores.