Investigation of glass fiber reinforced aluminum honeycomb panel repair performance according to aviation standards

Aluminum honeycomb structures are widely used in aviation and aerospace engineering designs due to their high strength/density properties. Although they are resistant to atmospheric conditions and acceptable impacts, they can suffer from corrosion and mechanical damage in some cases. This damage that occurs over time can affect the structural integrity and maintenance-repair process, which in turn can affect the safety and service life of this material. In this study, a different repair technique was tried by giving artificial damage to aluminum honeycomb structures. Repair procedures were carried out in accordance with the maintenance protocols of the manufacturing companies in order to restore the original strength properties of the material. After the repair, various non-destructive testing (NDT) methods, such as visual inspection and ultrasonic testing, were employed to inspect for discontinuities. A bending test was subsequently conducted to evaluate the material's strength, and the results were analyzed. The bending test results indicate that the repaired structures exhibited structural integrity close to their pre-damage state. The results of this study demonstrate that the repaired aluminum honeycomb structures achieved strength levels comparable to the original, undamaged material, meeting aviation industry standards. This highlights the effectiveness and reliability of the developed repair methods for ensuring safety and functionality in aerospace applications.