Airfoil with integral de-icer using overlapped tubes.

摘要

A structural member having integral surface de-icing capability and method of manufacture are described. The structural member includes a non-metallic high tensile modulus fiber-reinforced matrix structural backing, thin force and displacement generation means, and a thin high tensile modulus outer skin bonded to said backing and said force and displacement generation means which is positioned between the backing and the skin. The force and displacement generation means may include one or more inflatable tubular members preferably formed into a tube mat having bonded overlapped portions so as to distribute displacement forces. This reduces concentrated stress and fatigue while increasing surface shear forces across the ice accreting surface with each tube actuation. The structural member may be substituted for the aluminum alloy leading edge structural skin typically employed on modern aircraft. <IMAGE>