Patent ID: 7291373

Claim:
A composite structure, comprising: a composite panel defining a composite panel thickness and having at least one of an inner and outer face sheet sandwiching a core panel therebetween, the inner and outer face sheets being formed of non-metallic material, the core panel defining a generally constant thickness portion and a ramp portion along which the core panel tapers to a reduced thickness portion, the outer face sheet being locally thickened in the area of the core panel reduced thickness portion such that the composite panel thickness is constant thereacross, the core panel including a plurality of cells extending between the inner and outer face sheets, the cells within the reduced thickness portion being substantially filled with a filler material, the cells within the ramp portion and constant thickness portion being substantially filled with aerogel; a primary splice plate extending across the reduced thickness portions; a vertical web disposed adjacent the reduced thickness portion and extending laterally inwardly away from the inner face sheet; a plurality of mechanical fasteners extending along each side of the vertical web, each fastener having a shank extending through the outer face sheet, the reduced thickness portion, the inner face sheet and the primary splice plate, the shank being directly mounted within the core panel; and a layer of thermal barrier compound covering the primary splice plate.