Aircraft Construction, Repair

And Modification
 5 MAJOR STRESSES ACTING
ON AN AIRCRAFT

TENSION –stress that resists a force that tends to pull apart

COMPRESSION –stress that resists a crushing force
TORSION –stress that produces twisting
SHEAR –stress that resists the force tending to cause one
material to slide over an adjacent layer
BENDING –a combination of compression and tension
STRESS –internal force per area of a substance which opposes or resists
deformation; can cause strain
STRAIN –the deformation of a material or substance with respect to its
original dimensions
 STRUCTURAL DESIGN PHILOSOPHIES

Fail Safe – relies upon a duplication of certain structural members to ensure

that if one member failed, the other would assume the load of the failed
member.
Damage Tolerance – requires an evaluation of the structure to ensure that
should serious damage, that is cracking or partial failure, occur within the
operational life of the aircraft, the remaining structure can withstand
reasonable loads without failure until the damage is detected.
Fatigue – phenomenon of fracturing after a series of cyclic loads, maybe much
less than the ultimate load.
Safe Life – period during which it is considered that failure of a component is
extremely unlikely. Life may be expressed in flying hours, elapsed time, number
of flights or number of applications of load.
 AIRCRAFT STRUCTURAL
ASSEMBLY AND RIGGING

Aircraft Assembly - joining of various components and

structures that form an entire aircraft.
Aircraft Rigging - positioning and alignment of an
aircraft's major sub-assemblies to produce a synergistic
design.
 DEFINITIONS OF STRUCTURAL
MEMBERS
LONGERON - Main longitudinal member of a fuselage or nacelle.
TIE ROD (TENSION ROD) – Member taking a tensile load.
STRUT – Member taking a compression load.
STRESSED SKIN – Structure where loads are shared between skin and
framework.
FRAME – Lateral fuselage or nacelle member giving cross-sectional shape which
is often circular.
RIB – A fore and aft structural member of an aerofoil which has primary purpose
of maintaining the correct contour of the covering but is usually also a
stressed bearing component of the main structure.
SPAR – main spanwise member of an aerofoil. Frequently consist of an upper and
lower boom separated by a web.
STRINGER – Stiffener which assists sheet materials to carry loads along their
length. With integral construction, they are machined or etched out of the
skin panel.
BULKHEAD - A partition within the structure. Usually lateral but can be
longitudinal. If it forms the boundary of pressurized structure it is called a
pressure bulkhead.
CRACK STOPPER - A reinforcing member normally placed at right angles to
the path of an anticipated crack which will reduce the rate of further
propagation.
AERODYNAMIC LOADING - The loads imposed on an aircraft in flight.
STATIC LOADING - The loads imposed on an aircraft when stationary.
STATION NUMBERS - Numbers allocated to certain components, e.g. frames
and ribs, to indicate their positions within the structure. The numbers
may represent in inches the distance from a datum point which could be
the fuselage, nose or the wing root.