Boeing just released its third in an ongoing series of 787 milestone videos on its website. The latest chronicles the completion of destructive testing on the 787 test wingbox. The results of will be analyzed and applied to additional testing on the 787 static airframe (ZY997). The final validation of wing strength for FAA certification will be carried out on ZY997 when the wing is bent to apply 150% of maximum loads. Boeing has not yet decided if it plans to break the wings of ZY997. One could speculate that the destruction of the test article helped in determining the extent of debris cleanup that might be required if the test was carried out on ZY997 inside the factory. In January 1995, the Boeing 777 was brought to 154% of maximum loads before it snapped in spectacular fashion.
Breaking the wing is not a requirement for certification, but would help in understanding the overall strength of the wing. If the wing survives well past 150% of maximum loads, it would provide a guide for weight reduction because the wing would be carrying too much structure, as well as assisting in understanding the growth potential for future 787 models.
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