The Boeing Company
Sliding joint kits, systems containing the same, and related methods

Abstract:

Presently disclosed sliding joint kits, sliding joints, and systems including the same may be configured to join a first panel and a second panel together such that at least a portion of the first panel and second panel are in sliding contact with one another, thereby allowing movement of one panel with respect to the other. In this manner, panels may be joined together while still allowing thermal expansion and resulting movement of one panel relative to the other. For example, presently disclosed sliding joints may be used to join panels of an aircraft heat shield together, which may result in reduced buckling and/or reduced joint stress of the panels of the heat shield. Related methods of assembling a sliding joint kit to join a first panel and a second panel are also disclosed.