Method of supporting a structural box beam

摘要

An internal stiffening member of varying configurations in which the stiffening elements support the skin using a compression-only load path is disclosed. A rib can be inserted into an assembled structural box beam, and a filler material can be used to fill any gaps between the slip-in rib and the interior surface of the structural box beam. The filler material is preferably an expandable material, such as an expandable foam-type material. However, in situations where a slip-in rib forms a primary structural rib, the filler material is preferably a structural adhesive or liquid shim material. A solid adhesive or filler would not crush under the clamping forces from fasteners or bolts at localized fitting attachments.