Numerical/experimental structural characterization of composite advanced joints for HALE-UAV platforms

In the study of specific aerospace systems, such as Solar Powered HALE-UAV, the required large structural dimensions force designers to consider modular constructions with removable connections. A specific advanced pin-hole connection has been designed and its structural characteristics and performances have been discussed, with respect to static loading and fatigue conditions. The presented solution has been introduced into the main structure connections of a solar platform prototype which was subjected to a standard static shear-bending test. The test revealed very good behaviour, as expected. This indirect validation makes the authors feel confident that this advanced solution could be applied extensively.