Abstract: A hole plug that can be used during rework or repair of a composite fiber assembly includes various features that allow placement of a vacuum force to the surface being reworked or repaired. In some implementations, the hole plug can include a plurality of nubs positioned around a shank. The nubs can secure the hole plug to the composite fiber assembly until a cure of an adhesive. The hole plug can further include a plurality of longitudinally oriented grooves extending along the shank and positioned between the plurality of nubs, and can include a notch positioned circumferentially around the shank. The grooves and notch can be used as adhesive carriers that assist with dispersal of a sufficient volume of the adhesive onto other portions of the shank and the composite fiber assembly during insertion of the hole plug into a hole in the composite fiber assembly.

Abstract: A hole plug that can be used during rework or repair of a composite fiber assembly includes various features that allow placement of a vacuum force to the surface being reworked or repaired. In some implementations, the hole plug can include a plurality of nubs positioned around a shank. The nubs can secure the hole plug to the composite fiber assembly until a cure of an adhesive. The hole plug can further include a plurality of longitudinally oriented grooves extending along the shank and positioned between the plurality of nubs, and can include a notch positioned circumferentially around the shank. The grooves and notch can be used as adhesive carriers that assist with dispersal of a sufficient volume of the adhesive onto other portions of the shank and the composite fiber assembly during insertion of the hole plug into a hole in the composite fiber assembly.

Abstract: A method of repairing a through-hole formed in a structure having at least one composite material includes filling at least a portion of the through-hole with a potting compound, inserting a portion of a cartridge heater into the through-hole, and curing the potting compound with the cartridge heater.

Abstract: Systems and methods for actualizing simulated scarfing and patching for repair of composite laminates. A virtual environment is provided that enables engineers to optimize a repair design and provide the most robust repair solution that meets structural requirements, while minimizing the material removal and the impact to the composite structure. An optimization algorithm is configured to adjust contour offsets for pad-up plies and adjust scarf taper ratios in any direction to reduce the amount of material removed or avoid underlying structures. Scarf repair designs are subsequently transmitted to repair technicians for manual scarfing via printed templates or automated/robotic scarfing using converted computer-readable code. The technology also provides digital data for automated repair ply cutting.

Abstract: A hole plug that can be used during rework or repair of a composite fiber assembly includes various features that allow placement of a vacuum force to the surface being reworked or repaired. In some implementations, the hole plug can include a plurality of nubs positioned around a shank. The nubs can secure the hole plug to the composite fiber assembly until a cure of an adhesive. The hole plug can further include a plurality of longitudinally oriented grooves extending along the shank and positioned between the plurality of nubs, and can include a notch positioned circumferentially around the shank. The grooves and notch can be used as adhesive carriers that assist with dispersal of a sufficient volume of the adhesive onto other portions of the shank and the composite fiber assembly during insertion of the hole plug into a hole in the composite fiber assembly.

Abstract: A method of repairing a through-hole formed in a structure having at least one composite material includes filling at least a portion of the through-hole with a potting compound, inserting a portion of a cartridge heater into the through-hole, and curing the potting compound with the cartridge heater.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for analysis of a repair for a structure by identifying component parts of the structure that have common material properties and geometric constraints, and based thereon determining a generic repair component for the component parts that also have the common material properties and the geometric constraints. A set of loads are extracted from a loads model of the undamaged structure and redistributed in a loads redistribution model at a damaged or defective portion of the component part. The set of redistributed loads indicate loading incurred by the generic repair component under an external load. The apparatus then uses the redistributed loads to perform an analysis to determine a margin of safety of the generic repair component and, in instances in which the margin of safety is positive, outputs the material properties and geometric constraints of the generic repair component to a fabrication system for production thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for analysis of a repair for a structure by identifying component parts of the structure that have common material properties and geometric constraints, and based thereon determining a generic repair component for the component parts that also have the common material properties and the geometric constraints. A set of loads are extracted from a loads model of the undamaged structure and redistributed in a loads redistribution model at a damaged or defective portion of the component part. The set of redistributed loads indicate loading incurred by the generic repair component under an external load. The apparatus then uses the redistributed loads to perform an analysis to determine a margin of safety of the generic repair component and, in instances in which the margin of safety is positive, outputs the material properties and geometric constraints of the generic repair component to a fabrication system for production thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing an inconsistency. A shape of the inconsistency is identified in a location having layers of composite materials. A model of the location is created with a portion of a number of layers in the layers of composite materials removed to form a section based on the shape of the inconsistency and a policy for rework.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing an inconsistency. A shape of the inconsistency is identified in a location having layers of composite materials. A model of the location is created with a portion of a number of layers in the layers of composite materials removed to form a section based on the shape of the inconsistency and a policy for rework.