The Manufacture and Test of Advanced Composite Material Flange

Abstract

Due to the problems of potential corrosion and thermal expansion differences between traditional metal connecting pieces and carbon fiber poles, it is difficult for them to meet the operating requirements of truss structures in the environment of stratosphere. Based on the large scale composite space truss structure of stratosphere aerostats, the carbon fiber flange connection joints were studied in the present paper. Adopting the three-dimensional full five-directional braiding technology, Toray T700S – 12K carbon fiber is used as the raw material to manufacture flange joint preform, and to manufacture flange forming by RTM(resin transfer molding) process. As demonstrated by tension tests, the composite flange joints have equivalent mechanical properties with flanges manufactured by common aviation aluminum alloy, and meet requirements of stratosphere truss structure connecting pieces.