WIX Archives
Crack growth...
Posted by bdk on Thu Sep 19, 2002 03:24:13 PM
In reply top Thanks all, ...... posted by Christer on Thu Sep 19, 2002 07:13:36 AM
Airworthiness is based upon condition for most aircraft, although helicopters have many life limited parts (because the wings spin).
On larger aircraft, crack growth from fatigue can be tracked and repaired when the cracks reach defined limits. Crack growth is usually small. Where the problem comes in is if crack growth is remains undetected for a long period of time. Then you can get surprised!
Nowadays, crack growth can be predicted very accurately. The applicable engineering field is "Durability and Damage Tolerance".
: ...... for Your replies!
:
: When a new fighter is designed there?s always a mention of
: calculated service hours after which its flying carreer i
: s over.
: If I recall correctly the figures are something like 2.000
: -3.000 hours.
:
: As I understand Your replies, there is no such calculated
: limit for a rebuilt (zero houred) warbird.
: The owner can enjoy it for the rest of his or her life but
: , can also mess it up in a few years due to negligence.
: It won?t be "worn out" by flying it within its design limi
: ts.
:
: Coming to think of it, there must be lots of Cessnas and P
: ipers that have thousands and even tens of thousands of ho
: us logged but, maybe that?s a different matter?
:
: Christer