Advanced Fasteners for Low Cost Airframe Assembly and Repair

This SBIR proposes the development of the 3/16 inch diameter "Wing-It" blind fastener. This effort will include fastening both aluminum and composite sheet material. The technical objective is to demonstrate a low-cost fastener for future aircraft as an alternative to production fasteners. The "Wing-It" fastener distributes the load in the joint over a much larger area than conventional fasteners. This loading characteristic minimizes the stresses at the hole in the joined material. The small tolerances for the fastener and hole dimensions, which are required to achieve fatigue life in current aircraft applications, and are costly to achieve, will not be required with the "Wing-It". In addition to saving money due to relaxed tolerances, fewer "Wing-It" fasteners will be required which will also save money. This task will include a structural analysis to help design test models. A series of tensile, shear, and fatique tests, in compliance with Navy Qualified Parts List qualification requirements and procedures, will be conducted to compare the performance of the "Wing-It" to qualified aluminum sleeve blind rivet, M7885/2-6-03. This fastener has potential application in military and commercial aviation, architectural, marine, and automotive industries.