An exterior panel is formed of superplastic materials, including an exterior skin of titanium to accommodate high thermal stresses imposed on hypersonic transport vehicles during hypersonic flight. The exterior skin is fixed to an underlying reinforcing skeletal structure consisting of a superplastic formable reinforcement (SFR) layer, for example a titanium, zirconium, and molybdenum (TZM) alloy, which supports the exterior skin whenever the latter may be heated to temperatures exceeding 1200 degrees Fahrenheit. The exterior panel includes a separate interior skin configured for attachment to a frame member such as a rib, stringer, or spar of the hypersonic transport vehicle. A multicellular core is sandwiched between the exterior and interior skins to impart tensile and compressive strength to the exterior panel. In one disclosed method, the core is superplastic formed and diffusion bonded to the exterior and interior skins.

A method of forming a material using a supersonic fluidic oscillator in a superplastic forming process and a related system. Pressurized gas, at a baseline pressure, is applied to a surface of the material when the material is received within a cavity of a forming tool. Pressure fluctuations, relative to the baseline pressure within the tool cavity, are created with a supersonic fluidic oscillator. Each pressure fluctuation (i) deforms the material and (ii) subsequently allows for a partial stress relief of the material during the forming process.

A method of forming a material using a supersonic fluidic oscillator in a superplastic forming process and a related system. Pressurized gas, at a baseline pressure, is applied to a surface of the material when the material is received within a cavity of a forming tool. Pressure fluctuations, relative to the baseline pressure within the tool cavity, are created with a supersonic fluidic oscillator. Each pressure fluctuation (i) deforms the material and (ii) subsequently allows for a partial stress relief of the material during the forming process.

A process and apparatus for forming a structure comprising: a) forming a pack from a skin sheet and a core sheet, wherein venting grooves are formed in a surface of a sheet that is adjacent to the other sheet; b) placing the pack in a mould and heating the pack; c) injecting a first gas between the core and skin sheets to urge the skin sheet against the mould; d) injecting a second gas on the side of the core sheet remote from the skin sheet to urge the core sheet against the skin sheet; e) maintaining gas pressure of the second gas thereby diffusion bonding the sheets; and f) withdrawing some or all of the first gas from the cavity.

A process and apparatus for forming a structure comprising: a) forming a pack from a skin sheet and a core sheet, wherein venting grooves are formed in a surface of a sheet that is adjacent to the other sheet; b) placing the pack in a mould and heating the pack; c) injecting a first gas between the core and skin sheets to urge the skin sheet against the mould; d) injecting a second gas on the side of the core sheet remote from the skin sheet to urge the core sheet against the skin sheet; e) maintaining gas pressure of the second gas thereby diffusion bonding the sheets; and f) withdrawing some or all of the first gas from the cavity.

A component is formed by welding a plurality of sheets of metal to form a blank with a number of weld nuggets, placing the blank between a die section and a lid section, heating the die section to heat the blank, and introducing a pressurized gas between the lid section and the die section to press the blank into a mold in the die section to form a component. The number of weld nuggets has a desired thickness ratio between about 1.1 to about 1.25 such that the plurality of sheets of metal and the component formed have a number of characteristics that are substantially the same.

A component is formed by welding a plurality of sheets of metal to form a blank with a number of weld nuggets, placing the blank between a die section and a lid section, heating the die section to heat the blank, and introducing a pressurized gas between the lid section and the die section to press the blank into a mold in the die section to form a component. The number of weld nuggets has a desired thickness ratio between about 1.1 to about 1.25 such that the plurality of sheets of metal and the component formed have a number of characteristics that are substantially the same.

A process and apparatus for forming a structure comprising: a) forming a pack from a skin sheet and a core sheet, b) placing the pack in a mould and heating the pack; c) injecting a first gas between the core and skin sheets to urge the skin sheet against the mould; d) injecting a second gas on the side of the core sheet remote from the skin sheet to urge the core sheet against the skin sheet; e) maintaining gas pressure of the second gas thereby diffusion bonding the sheets; and f) injecting a third gas between the skin sheet and the mould, to force the skin sheet against the core sheet.

A process and apparatus for forming a structure comprising: a) forming a pack from a skin sheet and a core sheet, b) placing the pack in a mould and heating the pack; c) injecting a first gas between the core and skin sheets to urge the skin sheet against the mould; d) injecting a second gas on the side of the core sheet remote from the skin sheet to urge the core sheet against the skin sheet; e) maintaining gas pressure of the second gas thereby diffusion bonding the sheets; and f) injecting a third gas between the skin sheet and the mould, to force the skin sheet against the core sheet.

An assembly for forming multiple nacelle components is disclosed. In accordance with various embodiments, the assembly includes a plurality of dies arranged about a central axis. A first one of the plurality of dies has a first wall and a first cavity extending through the first wall and a second one of the plurality of dies has a second wall and a second cavity extending through the second wall. The first wall and the second wall are configured to sandwich a pair of metal blanks there between. In various embodiments, a structural ring is configured to surround the plurality of dies.