Module 7 Assignment: Design of a Lower Wing Skin Panel

You are tasked with selecting a preliminary design for a lower wing skin panel, but before
you see the design options, let's review the design requirements and drivers to consider
when making your decision.

Preliminary Design Requirements/Drivers

• Material to be used: either Carbon/PEEK (thermoplastic composite material) or a
weldable 6000 series aluminum alloy.
• Fatigue performance and static strength are the critical structural capabilities for the
wing skin.
• The intended aircraft for the wing skin panel has a high production rate, thus
manufacturing cost is very important.
• Sizing of components is not necessary (i.e.: you do not have to calculate thicknesses
and such at this time).

Design Options

• Design option 1: Aluminum design with mechanically fastened Z-stiffeners

• Design option 2: Aluminum design with welded L-stiffeners
• Design option 3: Aluminum design with bonded Z-stiffeners
• Design option 4: Carbon/PEEK design with mechanically fastened Z-stiffeners
• Design option 5: Carbon/PEEK design with welded omega-stiffeners
• Design option 6: Carbon/PEEK design with bonded omega-stiffeners

Your Task

You are tasked with picking one of the options above, and creating a short PowerPoint (or
equivalent) slideshow, or short business memo to convince your manager that your choice
is the one the company should go for. You are to address as many of the design
requirements/drivers as you can in your presentation/memo to make the most convincing
case. Please note that this is not only about the joining method, but can include aspects of
what you have learned throughout the whole course.