Abstract: A joint for connecting a center wing box to a bulkhead of an aircraft. The joint includes a flex angle member with a first section shaped to abut against and be connected to the center wing box, a second section shaped to abut against and be connected to a first side of the deck of the bulkhead, and an intermediate rounded corner positioned between the first and second sections. First support members are attached to the center wing box at first pins and support a first side of the second section of the flex angle member. Second support members are attached to the web of the bulkhead at second pins and support a second side of the second section of the flex angle member. The first support members are positioned on a first side of the deck of the bulkhead and the second support members are positioned on an opposing second side of the deck.

Abstract: Provided are methods and apparatus for determining a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of at least a portion of a test object. An example provided method includes (i) producing information describing a reference image of the test object portion during low-temperature excitation; (ii) heating the test object portion to a higher temperature; (iii) measuring a change in temperature of the test object portion; (iv) producing information describing an image of thermal change in displacement of the test object portion at the higher temperature; (v) comparing the information describing the image of thermal change in displacement of the test object portion at the higher temperature to the information describing the reference image to produce strain information describing heating-induced changes in strain in the test object portion; and (vi) producing CTE information by correlating the strain information with the change in temperature of the test object portion.