F-16 Askeri Uçağında Kullanılan Yakıt İkmal Kapağı Asamblesinin Arıza Analizi

Abstract

Bu çalışma, F-16 uçağının üst gövdesinde bulunan yakıt ikmal kapısı tertibatının menteşesinde meydana gelen kırılma arızasının ayrıntılı metalurjik analizini sunmaktadır. Bulgular, menteşenin kulakçık bölümündeki kırılmanın, uçuş sırasında yakıt ikmal işlemleri sırasında yanlış hizalama nedeniyle yakıt ikmal bomu ile kapı tertibatı arasındaki çarpışmanın neden olduğu monoton aşırı yükten kaynaklandığını ortaya koymuştur. Kırılma yüzeyini karakterize etmek için optik ve Taramalı Elektron Mikroskobu (TEM) kullanılmış ve bu sayede kırılgan yarılma özellikleri, nehir desenleri ve yorulma çizgilerinin bulunmaması tespit edilmiştir. Tüm bunlar, döngüsel yorulma yerine tek bir aşırı yük olayına işaret etmektedir. Çalışmada ayrıca, boya dökülmesi, ezikler ve çizikler gibi mekanik hasarın görünür kanıtları gözlemlenmiş ve bu da aşırı yükün neden olduğu darbe mekanizmasını doğrulamıştır. Bulgular, sıkı havacılık standartlarına göre tasarlanmış bileşenlerin bile eksen dışı yükler ve operasyonel yanlış hizalamaya maruz kaldıklarında ciddi arızalar yaşayabileceğini vurgulamaktadır. Gelecekteki çalışmalar, eksen dışı yükleme altında menteşe yeniden tasarım stratejilerini değerlendirmek için sonlu eleman modellemesini ve dayanıklılığı artırmak için alternatif malzemeler ve tasarım değişikliklerini içerebilecektir.

Keywords

• Yakıt ikmal kapağı
• Yakıt ikmal bomesi
• Metalurjik analiz
• Monotonik Yük

Failure Analysis of Refueling Door Assembly used on F-16 Military Aircraft

Abstract

This study presents a detailed metallurgical analysis of the fracture failure that occurred at the hinge of the refueling door assembly located on the upper fuselage of the F-16 aircraft. The findings revealed that the fracture of the hinge’s auricle section resulted from a monotonic overload caused by an impact between the refueling boom and the door assembly due to improper alignment during in-flight refueling operations. Optical and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize the fracture surface, enabling the identification of brittle cleavage features, river patterns, and the absence of fatigue striations, all indicative of a single overload event rather than cyclic fatigue. The study further observed visible evidence of mechanical distress, such as paint removal, dents, and scratches, corroborating the overload-induced impact mechanism. The findings underscore that even components designed to stringent aerospace standards may experience catastrophic failure when subjected to off axis loads and operational misalignment. Future studies may include finite element modeling to assess hinge redesign strategies under off-axis loading, as well as investigations into alternative materials and design modifications to enhance durability.

Keywords

• Refueling door assembly
• Refueling boom
• Metallurgical analysis
• Monotonic overload

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