Ageformable panels for commercial aircraft

Abstract After a quick reminder of the principles of creep form process, a detailed comparison of the 6056, 2022, and 7475 alloys will be presented using experimental techniques for creep relaxation under tension and bending. Microstructural investigations using transmission electronic microscopy and small angle scattering techniques show the evolution of the hardening precipitation during the ageform process of the different alloys investigated. Damage tolerance and static properties of creep-formed products are discussed in detail. The results of an industrial sized demonstrator of an Airbus A340 fuselage panel are presented as a conclusion showing the strong potential of this cost-efficient process.