Thermal Inertia of Composite Glider Wing Structure and the JAR-22 Strength Requirements

Abstract

The paper presents thc results of experimental work aimed in inrvestigation of the time-constants of a cooling or heating process of thc PW-5 glider wiing. Thermo-couples, locatcd in the most representative part of the wing, combined with a computcr-aided measurement system were used. The results obtained include charts of temperature histories of the heated glider componcnts. These permit the value and reliability of strength test methods employed by the glider producers to be evaluated. They also help to justify the JAR-22 requirements for the thermal protection of the glider structure.