Damage Limit and Evaluation Method for Aircraft Battle-damaged Structures

ZHANG Teng; REN Antai; LI Biao; HE Yuting; ZHANG Jianhua; NI Bo; AN Tao; CAI Jiakun; MA Liying; SHI Yaowu; ZHANG Lei; ZHANG Sen

doi:10.7643/issn.1672-9242.2026.06.001

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Equipment Environmental Engineering ›› 2026, Vol. 23 ›› Issue (6) : 1-12. DOI: 10.7643/issn.1672-9242.2026.06.001

Aviation and Aerospace Equipment

Damage Limit and Evaluation Method for Aircraft Battle-damaged Structures

ZHANG Teng¹, REN Antai¹, LI Biao², HE Yuting¹, ZHANG Jianhua³, NI Bo³, AN Tao¹, CAI Jiakun³, MA Liying¹, SHI Yaowu⁴, ZHANG Lei⁴, ZHANG Sen⁴

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Abstract

This study aims to clarify the connotation of damage limit for aircraft battle-damaged structures and develop an evaluation method of damage limits, so as to provide a theoretical basis for the battle damage repair of aircraft structures. The concept of damage limit was defined according to GJB 3897, and the corresponding relationship between damage grades and damage limit sizes was analyzed. Based on the correlation among failure load, ultimate load and limit load, the utilization principle of structural safety margin after battle damage was proposed, and the mapping relationship from residual strength of damaged structure to damage limit was constructed. Based on the net-section fracture criterion, the residual strength evaluation and damage limit calculation methods of typical metal panels under tensile load were established. Tensile tests of typical metal panels were carried out for verification. The error of residual strength evaluation was less than 12.4% and the method was conservative, meeting the engineering requirements of battle damage assessment. Damage limit is the maximum damage size of structures meeting bearing requirements under specific conditions. The established evaluation method can realize the rapid determination of damage limit of battle-damaged structures and lay a theoretical foundation for the decision-making of structural battle damage repair of aircraft.

Key words

battle damage evaluation / battle damage repair / damaged structure / damage limit / residual strength / tension-dominant panel

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ZHANG Teng, REN Antai, LI Biao, HE Yuting, ZHANG Jianhua, NI Bo, AN Tao, CAI Jiakun, MA Liying, SHI Yaowu, ZHANG Lei, ZHANG Sen. Damage Limit and Evaluation Method for Aircraft Battle-damaged Structures[J]. Equipment Environmental Engineering. 2026, 23(6): 1-12 https://doi.org/10.7643/issn.1672-9242.2026.06.001

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