The document discusses different types of aircraft fuselage construction - truss, monocoque, and semi-monocoque. It describes the key features of each type, including that truss construction uses steel tubing, monocoque relies on skin strength, and semi-monocoque shares loads between skin and internal structures like stringers and longerons. It also defines common structural members used in aircraft like longerons, stringers, frames, and bulkheads; and explains their purposes and how they interconnect to form the fuselage structure.
Original Description:
This gives an idea about the constructional features of aircraft fuselage
The document discusses different types of aircraft fuselage construction - truss, monocoque, and semi-monocoque. It describes the key features of each type, including that truss construction uses steel tubing, monocoque relies on skin strength, and semi-monocoque shares loads between skin and internal structures like stringers and longerons. It also defines common structural members used in aircraft like longerons, stringers, frames, and bulkheads; and explains their purposes and how they interconnect to form the fuselage structure.
The document discusses different types of aircraft fuselage construction - truss, monocoque, and semi-monocoque. It describes the key features of each type, including that truss construction uses steel tubing, monocoque relies on skin strength, and semi-monocoque shares loads between skin and internal structures like stringers and longerons. It also defines common structural members used in aircraft like longerons, stringers, frames, and bulkheads; and explains their purposes and how they interconnect to form the fuselage structure.
CONSTRUCTIONAL FEATURES OF AIRCRAFT STRUCTURE-FUSELAGE
The fuselage of an aircraft is usually constructed in any one or more types of
design mentioned below. 1. Truss type construction 2. Monocoque type construction 3. Semi-monocoque type construction
TRUSS TYPE CONSTRUCTION This type of construction is usually made up of steel tubing welded together to form a structure. Each member of this type of construction is able to carry tension and compression loads. When the applied load is reversed, the members that were taking tension will now take compression and vice versa. Usually the truss type of construction is covered with fabric.
TRUSS TYPE CONSTRUCTION MONOCOQUE TYPE CONSTRUCTION
MONOCOQUE TYPE CONSTRUCTION This type of fuselage construction largely relies on the strength of the skin or covering to carry the primary stresses. A true monocoque type of construction uses formers, frames, bulkheads etc., and is covered by the skin. The monocoque structure can carry loads effectively particularly when the fuselage is of small diameter. The biggest problem involved in monocoque construction is maintaining enough strength while keeping the weight within allowable limits. In this type of fuselage construction, the skin would carry all the flight and ground loads. As the strength of the whole fuselage is in the skin, any damage that deforms, dents, perforates or creases; it will reduce the skins ability to carry these loads and can lead to structural failure.
SEMI-MONOCOQUE TYPE CONSTRUCTION In this type of construction, the loads imposed on the skin are shared by a series of frames, stringers and formers that are attached to it. Frames are strong structural members that are made to the cross sectional contour of the aircraft, circular or oval. Frames strengthen the fuselage and spread the load. The vertical structural members of the semi-monocoque type structure are bulkheads, frames and formers. The heaviest of these vertical structural members are located at intervals to carry concentrated loads and also at points where fittings are used to attach other units such as wings, undercarriage etc., Formers are used to maintain the skins profile between the frames. Primary bending loads are usually taken by the longerons. The principal longitudinal member of the framing of an aircraft fuselage or nacelle is called longeron. Longerons are usually continuous across a number of points of support. The longerons are supplemented by other longitudinal members called Stringers. Stringers are more numerous in number and lighter in weight than longerons and is usually made of one piece Stringers and longerons prevent tension and compression loads from bending the fuselage. The longerons are strong and heavy. The longerons hold the bulkheads, frames and formers in its place and these in turn hold the stringers. Stringers have some rigidity, and are mainly used for giving shape for the skin, and also as a means for the attachment of the skin. Stringers are usually made of aluminium alloy and are manufactured in a variety of shapes by casting, extrusion or forming. The longerons are also made of aluminium alloy. Longeron may be of one-piece or of built-up construction. A gusset is a type of connecting bracket used to connect longerons, frames and former etc., Heavy frames reinforced by beams attached to webs are usually called as bulkheads. The bracing between longerons is often referred to as web members. These web members may be installed vertically or diagonally. The structural members such as longerons, frames, formers, stringers, bulkheads etc., are connected together by rivets, nuts and bolts metal screws etc., The metal skin or covering is riveted to the longerons, bulkheads and other structural members and carries part of the load. The thickness of the fuselage skin varies with the load imposed on it at different locations. The heaviest skins are those in the lower fuselage surrounding the openings for the wings and the landing gear doors.
SEMI-MONOCOQUE TYPE CONSTRUCTION
A. AIRCRAFT STRUCTURAL MEMBERS The following are the structural members used in the construction of aircraft. DOUBLER: A piece of sheet metal used to strengthen and stiffen the structure. FORMER: An aircraft structural member used to give the fuselage its shape. Formers are light in weight. These are usually located between two principle vertical members. STRINGER These are used to stiffen and support the skin against buckling. These are similar to longerons but lighter in construction. Where possible, stringers run the complete length of the fuselage passing through small cut-outs in the frames, bulkheads etc., The stringers do not usually pass through pressure bulkheads. However, since any apertures in these members create a sealing problem.
FRAME: A circumferential structural member in the body that supports the stringers and skin used in semi-monocoque construction. Frames are generally spaced at regular intervals along the length of the fuselage. These are lighter cross members usually in the form of rings to resist shear loads and to stiffen and give shape to the fuselage. These are fitted at close intervals in high stress areas. Heavy frames are fitted to certain areas of the fuselage where there are additional stresses-main landing gear attachments-front and rear attachments-engines. These may be machined out of solid block.
STRUT: A supporting brace that bears compression loads, tension loads or both as in a fuselage between the longerons or in a landing gear to transmit the airplane loads. TIE: A tension loaded part used to attach system parts. These are designed mainly to withstand tensile stresses. Usually a solid rod of small cross-sectional area is used as a tie. BULKHEAD: A structural member partition that divides the fuselage of an aircraft into compartments. Heavy frames reinforced by beams attached to webs are usually called bulkheads. Structural bulkheads are used where more strength is needed that can be provided by a frame and where passage through the fuselage is not required. They are often fitted in the rear fuselage and carry the tail unit loads and for strengthening the fuselage at the ends of a large aperture. PRESSURE BULKHEADS Pressure bulkheads form the strong, air-tight ends of the pressurized cockpit or passenger compartment or pressure hull. Large pressure bulkheads are often domed so that they can withstand the pressure loading without deformation. FUEL TANK BULKHEADS Where part of the fuselage is used to house flexible fuel tanks, or where the tanks are an integral part of the fuselage (rare on civil aircraft), a bulkhead is fitted at the ends of each tank compartment. For an integral tank these will be completely sealed with provision made for the attachment of fittings for refueling, engine supply lines, fuel tank gauging etc.,
FIREPROOF BULKHEADS Fire proof bulkheads are used to isolate a fire hazard zone, such as an engine compartment from the rest of the fuselage. These are mandatory.
BEAM: A structural member loaded at an angle (often at a right angle) to its length. These are designed to withstand bending A beam has the highest stresses on its outside with the least stresses on the inside. Beams are therefore designed with most of the material on the outside tubes, I-sections girders etc., The main spar of the airplane wing is a good example for a b
LONGERON: The principle longitudinal member of an aircraft fuselage or nacelle is called Longeron. Primary bending loads are taken by longerons. Longerons are comparatively heavier than the stringers. Longerons hold the bulkhead, frames, formers
A structural member loaded at an angle (often at a right angle) to its These are designed to withstand bending loads. A beam has the highest stresses on its outside with the least stresses on Beams are therefore designed with most of the material on the outside sections girders etc., The main spar of the airplane wing is a good example for a b The principle longitudinal member of an aircraft fuselage or nacelle is Primary bending loads are taken by longerons. Longerons are comparatively heavier than the stringers. Longerons hold the bulkhead, frames, formers and stringers in place.
A structural member loaded at an angle (often at a right angle) to its A beam has the highest stresses on its outside with the least stresses on Beams are therefore designed with most of the material on the outside- The main spar of the airplane wing is a good example for a beam The principle longitudinal member of an aircraft fuselage or nacelle is Longerons are comparatively heavier than the stringers. and stringers in place.