The Boeing Company
Composite wing edge attachment and method

Abstract:

A composite edge of an aircraft wing includes a composite wing box skin panel, attached to an outward wing spar in an attachment region, and a composite ramp, upon an outer surface of, and co-cured with, the composite wing box skin panel. The composite wing box skin panel has a proximal end and a distal end, with an overhanging edge, with substantially constant thickness and ply count in the attachment region. The composite ramp has a maximum ramp thickness at the distal end, the distal end being set back from the overhanging edge, defining a shoulder on the overhanging edge. A composite wing edge skin panel, having a thickness substantially equal to the maximum ramp thickness, is attached to the composite wing box skin panel at the shoulder and adjacent to the distal end of the ramp.