The Boeing Company
SUPERPLASTIC FORMED AND DIFFUSION BONDED STRUCTURES

Abstract:

An exterior panel is configured to accommodate high thermal stresses imposed on exterior surfaces of aerospace transport vehicles during hypersonic flight. The exterior panel is formed of a superplastic material such as a titanium alloy, and includes an exterior skin and a plurality of cooling tubes that extend through the panel. The exterior panel further includes an interior skin configured to be attached to a frame member such as a rib, stringer, or spar of the transport vehicle. The tubes pass through a multicellular core, which is sandwiched between the exterior and interior skins to impart tensile and compressive strength to the exterior panel. In one disclosed method, the core is superplastic formed and diffusion bonded to the exterior skin, the tubes, and the interior skin. A cooling fluid, which may be a gas or liquid, including a fuel, may be pumped through the tubes to cool the exterior panel.