The Boeing Company

Thaddeus L Wells

Derek R Tuck

Robert T Sheldon

Benjamin A Westin

Thomas D Mitchum, Jr

An apparatus for conducting an engineering analysis of a structural product is provided. The apparatus produces a computer-aided design (CAD) model of the structural product including component parts joined by fasteners and produces a finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) model of the structural product from the CAD model. The apparatus assigns one or more electrical properties to a mesh of elements representing the component parts and fasteners, and performs a finite-difference time-domain analysis on the FDTD model with the one or more electrical properties assigned, and with the FDTD model exposed to simulated lightning, to predict an impact of lightning on the fasteners and therefrom generate a corresponding prediction. The apparatus produces an output based on the corresponding prediction that indicates one or more levels of the impact of lightning on the fasteners and displays the output to facilitate design or manufacture of the structural product.

Engineering analysis of a structural product

An example method includes causing an actuator to apply a compressive force to an object. The compressive force pushes a first electrode against a first end of the object and causes a second end of the object to push against a second electrode. The method further includes detecting an initial magnitude of the compressive force. The method further includes, in response to determining that the initial magnitude of the compressive force is outside of a predetermined range of magnitude, causing the actuator to adjust the compressive force applied to the object. The method further includes detecting a magnitude of the adjusted compressive force. The method further includes, in response to determining that the magnitude of the adjusted compressive force is within the predetermined range of magnitude, detecting a conductance of the object via the first electrode and the second electrode.

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Ladson, SC, United States of America

Thaddeus L Wells