For structural engineering questions about airframes and the mechanical structures aboard aircraft
Questions tagged [aircraft-structures]
147 questions
28
votes
4 answers
Why are empty pylons weighed down?
(airplane-pictures.net) Airbus A330 no engine option.
Why are empty pylons weighed down?
The plausible answer is to maintain the correct center of gravity. But why not just load ballast pallets in the forward cargo compartment, like those used on…
user14897
6
votes
1 answer
On a large transport aircraft where exactly is the Forward pressure bulkhead?
Is the Forward pressure bulkhead in front of the pilots.. I.e when you lift the Radome for maintenance is that the Forward pressure bulkhead you can see? Some images or a diagram would be great.
Jono
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6
votes
1 answer
What is the difference between a wing station and wing buttock line?
Can someone explain (with images) what the difference between a Wing Station and Wing Buttock Line is, in terms of aircraft structures location identification?
The text I'm reading states:
W. STA = A plane perpendicular to the wing set at 90…
Jono
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5
votes
3 answers
Why are these spec and serial numbers blank on a part's plate of a WWII US military plane?
These pictures are of a plate from WWII US military plane that crashed in the high mountains of central Japan.
People living there say that after the war officials recovered the crash sites and some parts were put on display in a museum nearby. …
fujiyama
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4
votes
2 answers
What is the effect of wingspan on wing stiffness?
In an article in aviationweek about flight testing the GE9X, this statement is made.
To reduce aeroelastic interaction between the testbed and the big
engine, GE has also stiffened the wing by removing the 6-ft. tip
extension developed for the…
Sports Racer
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4
votes
4 answers
Could the experience of inflatable structures in boats be applied to large aircraft design?
Inflatable structures in boats have proved extremely successful and versatile since they began to find widespread use in the 1930s.
I'm aware that experiments have been made with inflatable wings - very light, delicate structures mainly on…
Daniele Procida
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3
votes
1 answer
What is the difference between a tear strap and a doubler?
Is there a difference between a tear strap and a doubler? If I get it right, the tear strap reinforce the main structure locally and prevent the propagation of tears, while the doubler, well, it has the same function. Is the difference lying in…
ahahfilip
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1
vote
0 answers
Wing Structural Load Test Simplification
I'd like to perform a static structural load test of a wing for a UAV. The wing is a rectangular planform of constant thickness throughout the wingspan with no twist, dihedral, or sweep.
During steady-level flight, the lift distribution will be a…
Seth
- 93
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1
vote
0 answers
Fuselage Bending Stress Calculation Approach
Does the approach below seem reasonable for a first-order estimate of the bending stress on a fuselage? I want to specifically confirm the end result, which shows that the maximum bending moment, and therefore maximum stress occurs at the…
Seth
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1
vote
2 answers
In aircraft with single spar in each wing, are the spars at different chord locations?
In aircraft like the Pipistrel Virus, there's a single spar in each wing which is held with steel pins inside the fuselage.
Are these spars offset along the chord line or are they bent at an angle for assembly?
Mridul
- 1,222
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1
vote
1 answer
How to identify load paths?
How would you go on about identifying the load paths on an empennage structure, wing and fuselage?
G. Casupang
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0
votes
1 answer
Can the torsional strength of a wing be increased by adding more ribs?
I understand increasing the skin thickness is the best way to increase the strength in torsion, but if that is not an option will just adding more ribs work?
In a composite wing skin, will adding a core between the skins increase its torsional…
Mridul
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0
votes
1 answer
fuselage structure
How can a mechanic measure the distance of underlying structural elements of fuselage skin (e.g. stringers, internal doublers around door cutouts) from a specific cracked fastener hole in the fuselage skin through external inspection, given that SRM…
skywatertrees
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-1
votes
1 answer
How can you relate structural forces to load factors and inertia force
Our professor in aircraft structures asked us to research how can you relate structural forces to load factors and inertia forces and i dont have a clue. Help
-2
votes
2 answers
Pilot seat - primary or secondary structure?
For design of pilot seat, would the seat be considered as primary or secondary structure?
LuTze
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