TAPERED HEIGHT CURVED COMPOSITE STRINGERS AND CORRESPONDING PANELS

摘要

Apparatus and methods provide for utilizing continuous curved composite stringers (102) to control the loads and corresponding moments within curved regions of an aircraft or other vehicle without delamination or other interlamina failures. According to embodiments described herein, any number of tapered height curved composite stringers (102) may be coupled to continuous skin components (104) to create a curved continuous panel. The tapered height curved composite stringers (102) may have webs (110) that taper to a reduced height within curved regions and corresponding base flanges (112) that widen during web tapering. Reinforcement fittings (116) may be coupled to the base flanges in the curved regions for further strengthening and to provide for the attachment of supplemental panels to the stringers.