Aircraft Structural Integrity: Corrosion Effects

Corrosion damage can significantly reduce the structural integrity of aluminum alloy components in aircraft. This is a serious threat to the airworthiness of aircraft which means that corrosion prevention and repair are a major cost to aircraft operators. This article details a practical approach to the management of corrosion in aircraft by describing the forms of corrosion that are common in aircraft, the detection and measurement of these forms, and how they affect the airworthiness of aircraft designed using the dominant airworthiness philosophies. It concludes with a brief outline of how the structural integrity effects of each type are modeled.