“Introduction to 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ‘We would like to thank and acknowledge: For Diagram 1.9 ‘The estate of Mr. A. Whitlock for the kind permission to reproduce and use this drawing from his book “Behind the Cockpit Door” INTRODUCTION Diagram 1.1 Wright Flyer Since the advent of powered fight, aircraft designers and manufacturers have made use of available technology, striving to build aircraft that are faster and can carry a greater load a greater distance. Competition to produce the best machine has fuelled research and development. Dramatic leaps in aviation technology were made in the First, Second, and Cold Wars of the Twentieth century. Diagram 1.2 Boeing 747 Air Transport Aircraft Airframes and SystemsTNO 2 RONNIE BA Chapter 1 Introduction to Structures Every aeroplane makes use of a horizontal aerofoil surface, the wing, to produce the lifting force to support its mass. Lift produced by the wing can also create a pitching moment. To balance this pitching moment, a second horizontal aerofoil is used. It can be placed in front of the main wing as a canard, as per diagram 1.1, or behind the wing as a tailplane, as per diagram 1.2. To give directional stability to the aircraft, a vertical aerofoils) fin is mounted behind the wing, usually on the fuselage, Delta-wing aircraft ‘The design of a delta wing and its surface area are such that a horizontal tailplane is not required, however, a vertical fin is required. V-tail aircraft For the V-tailed aircraft, the designers have mounted the tailplane in the form of a V. This provides the balancing force for the wings and provides the directional stability of the fin, 80 vertical fin is not required. Before looking at the components that make up an aircraft's structure, this chapter describes: v Physical strains that structures are subject to Loads that operating an aircraft applies to its structure Design philosophy that has evolved to ensure that aircraft are safe and that these loads do not cause catastrophic failure Materials used in manufacture STRESSES AND STRAINS THAT AFFECT AIRCRAFT STRUCTURES It has become fairly standard practice to interchange the words stress and strain. However, strain is the term used when an external force is applied to a structure that acts to deform it, while stress is the internal force within the structure that opposes the extemal force being applied. Listed below are the major stresses or strains that affect structures: vy v TENSION In the diagram, the tensile load strain applied is trying to pull the rod and elongate it. The tensile stress in the rod is resisting this strain. ie Diagram 1.32 Tension 12 Airframes and SystemsIntroduction to Structures Chapter 1 COMPRESSION In the diagram, the compressive load strain applied is trying to squeeze the rod and shorten its length. The compression stress within the rod is resisting this strain, Diagram 1.3b Compression TORSION In the diagram, the torque load strain applied is trying to twist the rod along its length. The torsional stress within the rod is resisting this strain. a n Diagram 1.3¢ Torsion SHEAR In the diagram, the fastening holding the two plates together is subject to cutting action as the two plates are subject to a tensile load. The resistance to the two opposite tensile loads is shear stress. Bos KE << Diagram 13d Shear Airframes and Systems 13