Patent ID: 8108979

Claim:
A method of repairing a first part having a first side, a second side opposite of the first side, and an aperture created during manufacture of the first part configured to receive a second part which makes the first part susceptible to cracking in a region immediately adjacent the manufactured aperture, the method comprising: forming a first slot and a second slot in the first side of the part, wherein both the first slot and the second slot are spaced at a distance from but are disposed in close proximity to the manufactured aperture, and wherein the second slot is disposed on an opposing side of the manufactured aperture from the first slot, and the first slot and the second slot have a length that exceeds a length or diameter of the manufactured aperture; inserting a stiffener into each of the first and second slots, wherein each stiffener strengthens the region immediately adjacent the manufactured aperture, and wherein each stiffener extends substantially the length of each respective slot but does not extend to the manufactured aperture; and attaching at least one repair ply onto the first side of the part to cover the stiffeners, wherein the one repair ply does not extend to cover over the manufactured aperture.