11.3 Wings Wing Construction Flashcards
What does the design of a wing depend on ?
-size
-weight
-use of aircraft
-speed in flight
- desired rate of climb
-landings
What design are the majority of aircraft wings?
Full cantilever design
What is a full cantilever design
They do not need external members as all structural members are supported by the skin
What wing design do most small aircraft use ?
Semi cantilever design
What is a semi cantilever design ?
When external struts or wires are used to support the wing and carry aerodynamic loads and landing loads
What are wing support cables and struts usually manufactured from ?
Aluminium
What structural components are a wing constructed of?
-spars
-stringers
-ribs
-formers
What is the primary structural element of the wings ?
-spars
What carries loads during flight?
Skin transfers stresses to the ribs then to the spars which bear all the loads during flight
What are three wing construction designs ?
-mono spar
-multi spar
-box beam
What is a mono spar construction ?
-one main spar ribs or stringers supply shape to the aerofoil
What is a multi spar construction ?
Multiple spars are used, ribs and stringers are used for shape.
What is box beam construction?
Two main spars with connecting stringers to provide extra strength and shape to the wing
What is a spar?
Main structural member of the wings, they are placed parallel to the lateral axis
how are the wing usually attached ?
Either a series of
-Wing fittings,
-plain beams,
-truss
What is the most common spar shape ?
The I beam
What is the top and bottom of an I beam called?
The caps
What is the vertical member of the I beam called ?
The web
What are the ribs ?
Ribs are the structural piece that runs parallel to the spars. They extend from trailing to leading edge they provide shape to the aerofoil
What are false ribs ?
Ribs that do no span the entire length of the wing chord
Where can wing butt ribs be found ?
At the inboard edge of the wing (the root)
Where the wing attaches to the centre wing box, what is it usually covered with ?
Fairings do achieve smooth airflow over the area
Why might wing tips be removable ?
They are prone to damage especially on the ground, so they need to be able to be easily replaced
What is it called when the skin as well as the spars and ribs are designed to take loads?
Stressed skin design
In stressed skin design, what might be done to the skin?
The skin is stiffened
How can a single sheet of aluminium have varying thicknesses ?
By chemically milling
In an aircraft with stressed skin design, what material may be used ?
Honeycomb composites as they are strong and lightweight
