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Old 29th May 2010, 17:03
  #1270 (permalink)  
bearfoil
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goodspark

The actuator takes all the spoiler's load, and is engineered accordingly. Note how the corners of the spoiler are broken downward, and the spoiler itself has folded in on itself longitudinally, ('around' the actuator, which is missing). This collapse is patent in overload, it is likely the actuator was 'pulled' out of its bed in the spoiler, as the spoiler left the a/c. Note the missing structure, roughly the shape of the join: actuator/spoiler.

The "Feathering" of the composite is typical of a spread-load failure, as opposed to focal collapse. This spread load can be related to either Air or SeaWater. the reason I choose Air Stream failure is that I would expect Water to have completely destroyed this panel at entry speeds entertained by BEA (ie above 100 knots.)

Composite, as opposed to Aluminum, has an instantaneous load/memory. It doesn't last long, but long enough such that the stress, if built up 'slowly' will instantaneously communicate with the whole panel at the failure point, causing a generalized rupture, instead of 'tearing', in the case of metallic sheets, or even laminates.

bear