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Commercial Airplane Applications of Superplastically Formed AA5083 Aluminum Sheet

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Abstract

This article discusses some of the advances that have been made at Boeing Commercial Airplanes during the manufacture of superplastically formed (SPF) AA5083 aluminum components for aircraft applications. This specially processed material is the lowest cost aluminum alloy that exhibits superplastic properties. Therefore, the use of 5083 would be beneficial to aircraft in forming complicated configurations. Since this aluminum alloy is non-heat treatable and therefore low strength, it is not typically considered a material for use on commercial airplanes. However, applications have been found on the Boeing Commercial fleet that provide lower cost hardware which, in some cases, is lighter weight. Design Engineers have been able to take advantage of the benefits of using SPF sheet metal hardware fabricated from AA5083 in areas where failure of the component during flight would not cause loss of the aircraft. SPF AA5083 components have replaced aluminum castings, fiberglass assemblies, and components fabricated by SPF from other aluminum alloys. Since this alloy is non-heat treatable, the cost of heat treating, quenching, and aging is avoided. Also, there is no contour distortion to straighten due to the solution heat treating and quenching process. Therefore, the quality of the hardware being delivered to the customer is greatly improved.

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Correspondence to Larry D. Hefti.

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Hefti, L.D. Commercial Airplane Applications of Superplastically Formed AA5083 Aluminum Sheet. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 16, 136–141 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-007-9023-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-007-9023-5

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