Failure Analysis and Prevention for Corrosion of Aircraft Structural Parts: A Wing Study

Abstract

Catastrophic accidents have frequently occurred in the operation of aircraft. Meanwhile aircraft passengers are always dealt with no choice, but accept whatever condition of aircraft they are flying. Such accidents are caused by some factors related to how the aircraft was designed, manufactured and maintained. Corrosion of aircraft structural parts is more probable failure that contributes accident. In design stage aluminum alloys is selected due to its best strength to weight ratio whereas its resistance to corrosion is less decisive factor. In manufacturing stage key success factor is seen on productivity performance instead of building corrosion free parts which may lower the production rate. This paper is aimed to study corrosion failure during service and maintenance and preventing further corrosion of aircraft structural parts. Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) was chosen to achieve the effectiveness of developing methodology for preventing failure. For each potential failure that can lead to accidents of interest, FMEA can evaluate the range of possible effects; ways in which the failure mode can occur; ways in which the failure mode can be detected and isolated and safeguards that are in place to protect against accidents resulting from the failure mode.