Aircraft - Airframes & Systems Flashcards
EASA standards publication for small and large aircraft
Small - CS 23
Large - CS 25 (>5700kg)
Pascal’s law
If a force is applied to fluid in a confined space the force is felt equally in all directions
Hydraulic calculation for force/pressure/area of surface
Force (N) = Area (m2) * Pressure (Pa)
F=AP [FAP]
[or pounds per square inch - psi]
Calculation for energy of hydraulic movement (work done)
Distance moved * Force
This stays constant so used in calculations between two pistons.
Assumption required for hydraulic calculations to be correct
Needs to be a perfect fluid with zero compressibility
[In reality we accept compressibility below 10% for 32 tons per sq in, or 70,000 psi]
Properties of good hydraulic fluid
- Thermal stability (low freezing, high boiling point, range -50 to 100C)
- Corrosion resistant
- High flashpoint & low flammability
- Low volatility (does not vaporise at pressure)
- Low viscosity (not sticky!)
- Incompressible
Hydraulic fluid description, colour:
- DTD 585 / DEF STAN 91-48
- SKYDROL
DTD 585 / DEF STAN 91-48: Red, refined mineral based (petroleum)
SKYDROL: Purple/Green, phosphate ester based oil, FIRE RESISTANT, less prone to cativation, synthetic based
How to identify hydraulic fluid?
Colour is an indication, but specification can only be confirmed by consulting aircraft manual and using fluid from sealed, labelled containers
Material used for seals (depending on fluid used)
Synthetic rubber
DTD 585 / DEF STAN 91-48: Neoprene
SKYDROL: Butyl
Concerns around handling hydraulic fluids
Skin and eye irritants - wash with lots of water
Not flammable however as this would make them unsuitable (DTD 585 kerosene based so slightly flammable but high flash point)
NOT corrosive, BUT eats through paint which exposes materials to corrosion.
Passive vs Active hydraulic systems
Passive has no pump, just transfers force from input to output (e.g. brakes on light aircraft)
Open-centre vs closed hydraulic system
Open-centre system is simple but only allows one component to be activated at a time (more typical in light aircraft with few hydraulic systems e.g. flaps, landing gear).
Pressure categorisation of active hydraulic systems
- Low
- High
- Typical
Low < 2,000 psi
High > 2,000 psi
Typical = 3,000 psi
Advantage of higher pressure hydraulic system
Smaller volume required, so smaller bore pipes (easier to route, reduced fluid quantity and system weight).
Purpose of reservoir
- Account for jack/actuator displacement
- Thermal expansion
- Small leaks
How is positive pressure maintained at hydraulic pump inlet
Reservoir is usually pressurised, or alternatively by being located higher than the pump or being “bootstrapped”.
Non-pressurised reservoirs risk boiling at high altitudes, leading to cativation of pumps or gas in lines and actuators, so pressurised is standard.
How is hydraulic reservoir pressurised?
The Pneumatic system
Hydraulic reservoir main connection and emergency connection differences
Main connection will be via a stand pipe, so that in the event of a leak some volume remains.
Emergency (hand pump) connection is directly to the bottom of the reservoir to allow that extra to be used in an emergency.
[Note: Wording may say stand pipe purpose is to provide an emergency supply]
Case drain filter
Filter fitted to constant pressure pumps to help monitor pump condition
Blocked filter false warnings
High viscosity fluid at low temperatures can cause the block filter indicator button to trigger. A bi-metal spring can be used that inhibits the button at low temperatures to prevent this false warning.
Filter material maintenace
Paper filters will be discarded.
Wire cloth can usually be cleaned (ultrasonic recommended, or trichloroethane as temporary measure).
Hydraulic pressure & thermal release valves
Use a ball held in place by a spring. Opens at the cracking pressure, closes at the re-seating pressure (less than cracking).
Same device for pressure or thermal (expansion) release, thermal will be at higher pressure setting.
Full flow relief valve (FFRV)
Pressure (/thermal) relief valve that can relieve the total flow of the pump if called for.
Hydraulic filter
Fitted downstream of pump (sometimes to reservoir return) to filter debris greater than 25 microns.
Fluid flows into a “bowl” and must pass through cylindrical filter element in centre to exit.
Pressure relief valve may trip a red button to indicate “popped” filter.
Pressure differential will indicate clogged filter which triggers a warning light to cokpit.
Hydraulic filter positions
In both pressure (after pump) and return lines
3 (typically) backup hydraulic power unit types
Pneumatic (air turbine motor) - ATM
Ram air turbine - HYDRAT/RAT
Hydraulically driven (Power Transfer Unit) - PTU
Main uses of hand pumps (non emergency)
- Ground servicing without engine
- Pressure testing of joints
- Operation of cargo doors (etc.) without power
Constant displacement vs constant pressure pumps
Constant displacement - keeps delivering at the same rate, requires an automatic cut out valve to prevent excess pressure.
AKA fixed volume or constant delivery
Constant pressure - reduces delivery (VARIABLE VOLUME) as output pressure increases
AKA variable volume
How does constant displacement pump work?
Body of pump angled so 7 or 9 pistons get opened and closed as driveshaft rotates
How does constant pressure pump work?
A control (or hanger) piston is connected to pump outlet feed, which pushes a swash plate.
The angle of the swash plate adjusts the travel of the pistons, from zero with flat swash plate to maximum with it angled (creating forward and back movement as swash plate turns).
Constant pressure pump max/min stroke description
Maximum stroke is when output pressure is low (e.g. component just activated), control piston is not under pressure and yoke allows inlet valve fully open.
Minimum stroke when control piston pressured by outlet pressure to close the inlet valve.
When is automatic cut out valve (ACOV) needed?
For constant delivery pumps ACOV provides an idling flow back to reservoir when system pressure has been reached (i.e. no components in use).
How does ACOV work?
A feed from the system line drives a piston which opens a poppet valve when required pressure is reached (“kicked out”). This valve connects the pump outlet to the reservoir allowing an idling flow through the pump, bypassing the system.
When system demand reduces pressure the popped valve “kicks in”.
Additional requirement for ACOV system
Need an accumulator (and NRV) in the system to maintain pressure, otherwise ACOV will continually open and close (hammering) due to leakages or use of the system.
ACOV diagram
How does accumulator work?
Contains nitrogen under pressure (added via charging point) separated via separator, floating piston or flexible diaphragm from a hydraulic liquid.
It stores hydraulic fluid under pressure, allowing for thermal expansion, dampening pressure fluctuation, providing emergency pressure and reducing ACOV activation frequency.
Effect of incorrect gas pressure setting in accumulator?
Hammering
Will initially be charged to minimum system pressure (around half max pressure). Gas compresses when system pressure is on and thus can push back when it reduces.
Blocking valve
Reduces engine demand on start-up and in case of fire. System pressure opens blocking valve against spring normally. When blocking solenoid is activated, pressure on both sides of blocking valve allows spring to close it, pressure builds up and constant pressure swash plate forced to neutral.
Power Transfer Unit (PTU)
For when the main hydraulic pump fails, NOT in case of hydraulic system fault (overheat, leak). Allows one hydraulic system to transfer power to another (can be reversible). A hydraulic pump is in the system which is driven by the hydraulic motor in that system and drives a driveshaft to the other system.
Fluid is NOT moved between the systems, just power.
3 types of jack (actuator)
Single acting actuator - simple piston and spring
Double actuator - fluid on both sides, can have rod on one or both sides. Either balanced (e.g. nosewheel left/right) or unbalanced with different surface area on each side, for different force in different directions (e.g. landing gear up/down).
Rotary actuator
This is a hydraulic motor where hydraulic flow causes rotation of a motor, which drives a driveshaft. Speed of the motor is dependent on rate of flow.
Used where rotary rather than linear motion is required as an output.
Hydraulic lock
When fluid is trapped between a piston and non-return valve, preventing the piston from moving.
May be used purposefully to lock an actuator.
Pressure maintaining valve (PMV)
AKA priority valve.
Cuts off or reduces pressure to secondary systems to ensure pressure is available for priority systems
Pressure reducing valve
Reduces main system pressure down to suitable level for certain systems (e.g. wheel brakes).
Restrictor valve/choke
- examples
Allows full flow in one direction and restricted flow in the other direction.
Often fitted to the “up” side of flap and landing gear to slow down retraction.
2 way restrictor valve
Basically a narrowing of the pipe, restricts flow in both directions (e.g. nose gear requires less force than main gear)
Throttling Valve
- phrase for what it aims for
Complex version of a restrictor valve. Adjusts based on the supply flow to ensure a CONSTANT FLOW RATE to a component.
Flow Control Valve
Similar to throttling valve. Positioned upstream of hydraulic motors to ensure an even flow rate and thus constant speed. As with throttling valve, increased flow closes the valve and slows flow down.
Selector valves - rotary/linear
Control hydraulic flow to activate components.
Rotary has a circular junction box arrangement which connects different lines when turned.
Linear has piston type internals which connect different inlets and outlets as they are moved. AKA spool valve or pilot valve.
Rotary selector valves with double/single actuators
A four port rotary selector will be used with a double actuator, providing a fluid path from or to the reservoir.
A two port rotary selector is used with a single acting actuator.
Shuttle valve
Connects two inlets to the system. When pressure is lost in the main supply, the shuttle will be pushed across by the secondary supply inlet which is then connected to the system to provide an alternative supply.
Sequence valve
Allows more than one jack to be activated in a particular sequence.
Mechanical or hydraulic!
Pressure from upstream where first jack is connected pushes a sliding piece against a spring. A second connection from the upstream flow is then opened up to the downstream flow where the second jack is found.
Hydraulic fuse
Limits flow of fluid so that a major leak doesn’t allow all fluid to be lost, e.g. across brakes
Situated upflow of a component, fusing if flow is too high, so that component fails but rest of the system doesn’t.
Backing ring
Hydraulic seal that prevents the seal from moving out
Modulator
Used for modulation in old anti-skid (maxaret) systems.
Basic sprung piston with same stroke volume as brakes. Small orifice in the piston head allows fluid through. Maxaret removes small amount of fluid upstream of modulator if it detects a skid and the orifice in modulator allows temporary brake pressure release.
Light aircraft power packs
AKA Open-centred
On-demand hydraulic system that powers on to do one job (eg landing gear up/down) then powers down.
Pump is operated in one direction or the other and hydraulic lock used to keep it in position (with thermal relief for expansion).
Pump is ONLY on when an actuator is travelling.
Pneumatic systems advantages
- Air is free
- Lighter than liquid
- No fire risk
- No viscosity change due to temp
- No return lines needed
Pneumatic systems disadvantages
Compressibility of air (so less precise, no good for flight controls)
Hard to detect leaks
2 main pneumatic systems
Air conditioning
Pressurisation
3 emergency systems which use pneumatics
Emergency brakes - compressed air via shuttle valve and control valve, air pressure depends on handle selection
Fixed fire extinguishers - e.g. in engine bay, use nitrogen
Emergency undercarriage - Uses nitrogen to prevent fire, backup blowdown system in case hydraulics fail
Other pneumatic systems
Anti-icing (hot air or boots)
Hydraulic systems (nitrogen accumulator)
Oleo legs
Door seals
Air starters (main engines started using air from APU)
Air turbine motors (hydraulic pumps or AC generators)
Jet pipe nozzle control (military after burner)
Thrust reverser control
Basic stress forces
- Tension
- Compression
- Shearing
Combination stress forces
Bending (compression inside, tension outside, shear in centre)
Torsion (tension at outer edge, compression in centre, shearing over whole structure)
Stress
- Description
- Units
The internal force which resists an external load (e.g. tensile load creates tensile stress).
“Force per unit area”
Stress corrosion linked to…
Tensile load (& corrosive conditions)
Strain
The deformation caused by action of stress on a material
Buckling
When thin sheet material is subjected to end loads, or ties are subjected to compressive forces
Elastic limit
The limit of stress force up to which a material will return to its original form.
Beyond this, permanent deformation is called plastic deformation.
Ultimate stress
The fail point for a single application of a static load.
Repeated loading and unloading at levels below this (cyclical loading) will cause metal fatigue and mean the structure will fail before ultimate stress level.
Design Limit Load (DLL)
Design Ultimate Load (DUL)
DLL is the maximum load the designer would expect (transport +2.5, utility +4.4, aerobatic +6).
DUL is a safety factor of 1.5x. The structure must be capable of withstanding the DUL without collapse.
Fail safe / damage tolerant principle
In the case of failure in a given structural component, there is another “route” through which the same loads can be withstood. The aircraft can continue to safely withstand normal loads until the next periodic inspection.
Aka redundancy.
Safe Life principal
Where fail safe/redundancy not practical (e.g. landing gear) instead determine a maximum number of cycles (by hours, # landings, calendar time etc) and replace the component after that number.
Damage tolerance principal
Components that are likely to be subject to damage should be designed to continue to function despite damage, eg wingtips, landing gear.
Maintenance Strategies
Hard/fixed time: Replacement of safe life components at established point
On condition: Replacing a part when it is observed to be defective
Condition monitoring: Exception to “on condition”, when a component is defective but left until the next service interval. Needs to be monitored at regular intervals until replaced.
Table of failure types
Station numbers
Distances in a given plane measured from a zero datum (water line for vertical, fuselage station for longitudinal) to identify position of components.
Fuselage purpose
Carries aircraft payload and flight crew in suitable conditions.
Provides flight crew with effective position to operate aircraft.
Two types of stress due to pressurisation
Axial stress (stretches fuselage longitudinally)
Hoop stress (expands cross section of fuselage), due to pressurisation, taken mostly by the skin
3 types of fuselage construction
Truss/framework
Monocoque
Semi-monocoque
Monocoque vs semi-monocoque
Monocoque only has formers and an outside skin, with former CREATING the shape and skin taking the loads.
Semi-monocoque (aka stressed skin) has stringers (longerons) connecting the formers which spread the stress.
Machined skin
Profiling of the (usually) inner skin (eg corrugation) to increase strength. Can be done with machining or chemical etching, complex shapes can produce the desired characteristics. Important for semi-monocoque designs to achieve required strength.
Frame
Vertical structure which takes major loads and gives aircraft its shape, holes to reduce weight.
Bulkhead
Frame that is solid (although may have access doors)
Firewall materials
Heat resistant stainless steel or
Titanium Alloy
Doublers
Reinforcements around cutouts in stressed skin
Aeroelastic flutter
- description
- 3 components
Unstable, self-excited structural oscillation at a definite frequency where energy is extracted from air flow by the motion of the structure.
Caused by combination of 1) Inertial 2) Elastic and 3) Aerodynamic forces. Need to adjust one of the 3 to avoid oscillation at resonant frequency.
Adjusting inertial forces
Requires moving weight around. Heavy items resonate at lower frequency than light items.
Moving engine positions along the chord, or span wise, or fuel tanks to different places (including fuel usage during flight) have an effect. Changing CoG of control surfaces affects their flutter too.
Adjusting elastic and aerodynamic forces
Elastic - Adjusting stiffness of wings (resistance to bending or to torsion)
Aerodynamic - Try to design so that the speed which causes maximal flutter is outside the normal operating range of the aircraft.
Main requirement for avoiding flutter in flight
Stay within flight envelope, most importantly in relation to SPEED
Flight deck window structure
Toughened glass panels with clear vinyl interlayer.
Electrically conducting layer inside outer glass panel used for heating (to 35C)
Direct Vision window
Both pilots must have clear portion of windshield during precipitation.
Required opening window for first officer in case of demister failure (when depressurised).
Passenger window construction
Two acrylic plastic panels with airtight rubber seals
Window impact requirement
4lb (1.8kg) birdstrike at cruise speed
Eye reference position
- nominal (central) angle
- optimum and maximum ranges
Vertical: Nominal is 15 degrees below horizontal. Optimal area 15 degrees either side (so from horizontal to 30 degrees down). Maximal range is 20 degrees below nominal and 40 degrees above.
Horizontal: Nominal is centre line. Optimal range 15 degrees either side, maximal 35 degrees either side.
Force types on cantilever wing
Bending (weight of wing, including when on ground)
Twisting (in flight due to use of aileron)
Methods for reducing bending stress on wings
Aileron up-float
Engines and fuel tanks on/in wings
Torsion box
Formed by front and rear spars, ribs, stringers and skin in wing. Resists the bending and twisting loads in the wing.
Typical wing materials
Aluminium alloys for major structural components
GRP, CRP (glass/carbon reinforced plastic) or honeycomb for fairings, control surfaces etc.
Duralumin
Copper-based aluminium alloy - Strong, Light & Cheap.
However corrosion resistance is poor unless coated with pure aluminium (Alclad).
Can’t be heated above 120C so not suited to welding or flight above speed of sound.
What does aluminium corrosion look like?
White or grey spots or powder
Common metal appearing in alloys
Copper
Composite materials
- description
- gradual or sudden failure
- examples
Consist of a bulk material (the matrix) with reinforcing fibres of some kind, which give strength.
Good resistance to corrosion, tend to fail gradually rather than suddenly like metals.
E.g. Kevlar, Aramid
Honeycomb material
Thin layers around honeycomb core.
Strong in direction of the honeycomb, light due to hollow areas.
Worst and best operating environments for corrosion
Tropical, industrial, marine the worst.
Arctic & rural environments the best.
Two types of corrosion
Oxidation - Metal reacts with environment without electrolyte (dry)
Electrolytical - Requires electrical conducting electrolyte (wet). Two differing metal surfaces become anode and cathode with material transferred from anode to cathode.
Max descent velocity for landing gear
10ft/sec
Brake fade
Reduced brake performance due to overheating (NOT carbon fibre!)
Brake dragging
Caused by incorrectly set brake returns, leading to small amount of permanent braking
What position is brake wear checked in?
With brakes applied
Do brakes work better when hot or cold?
Steel brake discs work better when cold
Carbon fibre brakes work better when hot
Taxi braking with steel and carbon fibre brakes
Steel brakes wear more with time of application, so apply a little bit regularly and try to keep a constant low speed.
Carbon fibre wear more with number of applications, so higher acceleration and a single application of brakes preferable.
Safety and passenger comfort still the priority!
Brake pressure dumping
Brakes designed to provide force sufficient for wet conditions, so in dry conditions force is greater than landing gear can tolerate. A brake torque limiter dumps pressure back to the hydraulic system when torque limits reached to prevent damage.
Brake wear adjuster
Retraction pin indicates distance between torque plate and pressure plate, which indicates level of brake wear.
Markings on the retraction pin show limits.
Basic anti-skid functionality
Active during take off and landing (when operative), if a wheel stops, sufficient brake pressure is removed to release brakes until wheel spins up.
Called “locked wheel skid control”.
Anti-skid speed range
ASB not active below 20kt (taxi speeds) so aircraft can be brought to a stop
Maxaret anti-skid
Hydro-mechanical system that mechanically senses wheel speed and opens a valve when it is below a certain speed, releasing some of the hydraulic pressure in the braking system.
Electronic Anti-Skid
- Description
- Inputs (3)
Uses tachogenerator on EVERY wheel to detect rotation speed and sends a signal when it drops too low.
Either signal to a brake unit to release brake pressure, or if manually braking to maintain the appropriate “slip ratio” to maximise retardation.
- Idle wheel speed (measured)
- Braked wheel speed (measured)
- Desired wheel slip rate
Touchdown and bounce protection
Prevent application of brakes on touchdown. Can prevent braking even if full brake force from pilot (not recommended in any case).
Bounce protection re-engages this protection in case of a bounce to ensure wheels don’t lock on second contact.
Impact of failed anti-skid on landing distance
Extra 50% landing distance
Auto-braking system (ABS)
- Description
- Factors impacting deceleration
- Requirements to work
Slows aircraft to a stop with constant G force (i.e. rate of deceleration) to maximise comfort.
Will achieve required deceleration regardless of weight, but slippery surface might require anti-skid modulation so could limit deceleration.
Needs anti-skid to work and won’t work on alternative brake system.
[Note ABS not same as ASB (anti skid)]
Rejected take off (RTO) braking
Rejected take off results in maximum braking force, which trashes the tyres. This is a higher level of braking than the strongest setting of auto-brake.
As with auto-brake, manual braking cancels it and reverts to manual with auto-skid.
Armed during taxi, activates when speed over (eg) 70kt and thrust to idle.
In-flight braking
Brakes applied when wheels are up to prevent damage.
As nose wheel doesn’t have brakes, a “snubber” is used to stop the wheel.
Emergency brake system
- required ability
- lost functionality
Must be able to stop the aircraft within 1.5 normal stopping distance.
Anti skid will not be operational.
Note that some braking will be available from the accumulator if the hydraulics system fails.
Typical aircraft tyres:
- Large or small
- High or low pressure
Small high pressure
2 wheel types
Split hub - two sides cross bolted
Detachable flange - lock ring holds tyre in place, pressure forces tyre onto lock ring
[Well type for cars not suitable as tyres too firm]
Tyre pressure adjustments from rated level
Add 4% to account for aircraft full weight on the tyres.
Add another 10% for heat due to taxi, take off or landing