LAMINATED STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A LAMINATED STRUCTURE

Abstract

A method for producing a laminated structure, where the method comprises the forming of a primary laminated structure from a plurality of layers, and the forming of an additional layer, the additional layer comprising an erosion-resistant material, on the primary laminated structure. In addition, such a laminated structure is disclosed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic view of a laminated structure according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The examples described and drawings rendered are illustrative and are not to be read as limiting the scope of the invention as it is defined by the appended claims.

FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows a laminated structure or a metal sheet 100 that comprises a plurality of individual layers. The laminated structure comprises a first aluminum layer 101, a first layer made of a glass-fiber reinforced plastic (GFP) 102, a second aluminum layer 103, a second GFP layer 104, a third aluminum layer 105, a third GFP layer 106, a fourth aluminum layer 107 and a fourth GFP layer 108. These layers constitute a primary laminated structure and may be formed and firmly interconnected by means of methods which are well known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. For example, known bonding methods may be suitable for this interconnection.

On this primary laminated structure, a layer made of stainless steel 109 is formed, where the layer serves as an outer layer of the laminated structure according to the embodiment shown. In FIG. 1, the laminated structure 100 is shown in a curved state in order to indicate that this laminated structure may be bent to a desired form even after having been produced. Such a laminated structure may be particularly suitable for use to form an erosion-prone components in an aircraft fuselage. This additional layer made of stainless steel 109 is formed at the same time as the primary laminated structure, for example, the two are cured together so that when the layer that is arranged underneath the stainless steel layer is a GFP layer, i.e., a fourth GFP layer 108, depicted in the figure, the adhesive or resin used in the formation of this GFP layer may be used to connect the stainless steel layer to the primary laminated structure.

In addition, it should be pointed out that “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and “a” or “one” does not exclude a plural number. Furthermore, it should be pointed out that characteristics or steps which have been described with reference to one of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with other characteristics or steps of other embodiments described above. Reference characters in the claims are not to be interpreted as limitations.

Alternative combinations and variations of the examples provided will become apparent based on the disclosure. It is not possible to provide specific examples for all of the many possible combinations and variations of the embodiments described but such combinations and variations may be claims that eventually issue.

Claims

1. A method for producing a laminated structure, comprising the steps of: forming a primary laminated structure from a plurality of layers; andforming an additional layer comprising an erosion-resistant material, on the primary laminated structure.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the erosion-resistant material is a material selected from the group consisting of steel, stainless steel and titanium.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of layers comprise at least a first material and a second material.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first material is aluminum, and the second material is a material selected from the group consisting of glass-fiber reinforced plastic, carbon-fiber reinforced plastic, aramid fibers; and cotton fibers.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the forming of the primary laminated structure includes forming of an alternating sequence of layers of the first material and of the second material.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the additional layer is formed on the primary laminated structure by bonding.

7. A laminated structure comprising: a first layer comprising a first material;a second layer comprising a second material; anda cover layer that is made from an erosion-resistant material.

8. The laminated structure of claim 7, wherein the laminated structure comprises: a plurality of layers of the first material and of the second material, where the layers have been arranged in an alternating sequence.

9. The laminated structure of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of the layers comprise a thickness of between 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm.

10. A method for using a laminated structure comprising using the laminated structure of claim 7 in a fuselage, an air foil, a vertical tail unit, a horizontal tail unit or a combination thereof.

11. An aircraft comprising a laminated structure of claim 7.

12. The aircraft of claim 11, wherein an erosion-prone component is formed by means of the laminated structure.