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Boeing 787 Gets Its Wings Snapped, For Science

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NaldoKlient
11/19/08

In reply to Boeing 787 Gets Its Wings Snapped, For Science
If the wing explodes in flight how are you safe in the fuselage? Well, I guess in a twisted sort of way you are safe for about 90 seconds before the fuselage slams into the ground at 600MPH.
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Lite: hates Illinois Nazis
11/19/08

@NaldoKlient: Actually, more like 200-250 mph. We're talking terminal velocity - wind resistance, not how fast the engines can push you into the ground at that point.
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Ayeco
11/19/08

In reply to Boeing 787 Gets Its Wings Snapped, For Science
777 windload test:
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Lite: hates Illinois Nazis
11/19/08

@Ayeco: Did I just see Kim Jong Il in that video?
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Curves
11/19/08

In reply to Boeing 787 Gets Its Wings Snapped, For Science
Engineering: Hottest profession on the planet. When the mega-nerds get all excited about their work its infectious.
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Tom_Servo
11/19/08

@Curves: I totally agree. It's amazing how EVERY person on the internet is either an "engineer" or are "in the computer profession".
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ripfire
11/19/08

@Tom_Servo: True, but only from 9 to 5.
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Curves
11/19/08

@Tom_Servo: I only manage technical people, but its computer related, so youre right. (But I still love engineers; such ordered thinkers!)
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Geisrud
11/19/08

In reply to Boeing 787 Gets Its Wings Snapped, For Science
Too bad the wings are attached to the fuselage by half a dozen 1/4" bolts that fail at 30% load.
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GitEmSteveDave_ My Brute Dojo Code CDIAFIFE
11/19/08

@Geisrud: In just looking up "787 wing attachment" on the "Googles", I found this:

On May 26, 2005, The Boeing Co. awarded the production contract for its 787 Dreamliner's all-composite center wing box, the critical structure that joins the wings to the fuselage, to Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI, Nagoya, Japan). Long before the ink was dry on the contract, however, the long-standing Boeing development partner (also the manufacturer of Subaru automobiles) had begun construction of a 1 million-ft2 (more than 92,900m2) facility to manufacture the 17.4 ft long (fore to aft) by 19 ft wide by 4 ft thick (5.3m by 5.8m by 1.2m) structure.

How does a 1/4" bolt reach through a 4ft thick block? Even if they used the 6 you say they do, that would only be 1.5 inches. Please explain more and provide examples.
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Lite: hates Illinois Nazis
11/19/08

@Git Em SteveDave loves this guy-->: 1/4" being the diameter of the bolt, not the length perhaps?
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GitEmSteveDave_ My Brute Dojo Code CDIAFIFE
11/19/08

@Lite: At ~4.25' is it still a bolt or is it a rod? But besides that, from what I gathered online, 30% load of a Grade 5 carbon bolt at 1/4-20 is 36,000lbs. I do find it hard to believe that a company would ruin their reputation and open themselves to many lawsuits rather than ask their manufacturer to provide pieces with a larger hole. I mean, if you're drilling a hole, what's the savings of using a 1/4 bit vs a 1/2 or 3/4 inch bit. Seems a little outlandish to me is all.
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frigg
11/19/08

In reply to Boeing 787 Gets Its Wings Snapped, For Science
Eh, I realize this is far more impressive than a cat on a Roomba, but the cat on a Roomba made for far more riveting video.
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