The Boeing Company

Terry W Stratton

John Michael Welch

Thomas D Popp

Brian R Kitt

Robert F Wikstrom

An acoustic panel (,) for the nacelle (,) of a high bypass jet engine. The acoustic panel (,) has a perforated composite inner sheet (,), an outer composite sheet (,), and a honeycomb-core material (,) sandwiched therebetween. The acoustic panel (,) includes an integral forward ring (,) and integral wedge fairings (,).

Engine nacelle acoustic panel with integral wedge fairings and an integral forward ring

An improved acoustic panel (26) for the nacelle (20) of a high bypass jet engine. The acoustic panel (26) has a perforated composite inner sheet (54), an outer composite sheet (96, 98), and a new reinforcement structure, or pre-cured doubler (62) therein. The pre-cured doubler (62) is arranged to receive a load applied to the acoustic panel (26), and includes a face sheet (64) connected to a structural attachment area (52) of the perforated composite inner sheet (54). A structurally-reinforced core (63) is connected the face sheet (64). Preferably, the width of the face sheet (64) in an air flow direction of the acoustic panel (26) is substantially equal to the width of the structurally reinforced core (63) in the air flow direction. The pre-cured doubler (62) provides increase acoustic area in parts of the acoustic panel adjacent to attachment fittings (46). Expanded epoxy (87a) is also used to reinforce side edges and selected areas of the acoustic core (60) for the acoustic panel (26).

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Rose Hill, KS, United States of America

Terry W Stratton