The Boeing Company
REINFORCED STRUCTURAL COMPONENT FOR RESISTING TENSILE LOADING AND PROVIDING IMPACT RESISTANCE

Abstract:

A reinforced structural component includes a body portion made of a combination of plastic material and chopped fibers. The body portion has a central longitudinal axis and a cross-section orthogonal to the central longitudinal axis, with the cross-section having an outer periphery and an inner core inward of the outer periphery. The body portion has an outer peripheral portion and an inner core portion corresponding to respective longitudinal projections of the outer periphery and inner core. The body portion is configured for being acted upon by a combination of forces causing tension within one or more longitudinal segments of the inner core portion. The reinforced structural component also includes one or more layers of continuous fiber disposed longitudinally within the one or more longitudinal segments, so as to resist tension caused within the one or more longitudinal segments.