Non-Metallic Structures Flashcards
Why must abrupt changes in the cross-sectional area of a wooden structural member be avoided?
Abrupt changes in the cross sectional area of a structural member concentrate stresses and can cause failure.
How can you determine the slope of the grain in a piece of wood to be used in a wing spar?
Suitable wood for aircraft must have a slope that is not steeper than 1:15.
How much pressure must be applied to a glue joint in a piece of softwood to produce a strong joint?
125 to 150 pounds per square inch.
Why should sandpaper never be used when preparing a scarf joint in a wing spar for splicing?
The dust caused by sanding will plug the pores of the wood so the glue cannot get in to form a good bond.
Why are light steel bushings often used in bolt holes in a wood wing spar?
The bushing keeps the spar from being crushed when the nut on the attachment bolt is tightened.
Why should wooden wing spars be finished with a transparent varnish?
The transparent finish allows any decay or rot that develops in the wood to be detected.
What effect does moisture have on a wood aircraft structure?
Moisture causes the wood to swell and crack as it dries out. It allows fungus to develop in the wood and cause it to decay.
Which species of wood is considered to be the standard when comparing other woods for use in aircraft structure?
Sitka spruce.
What is the basic difference between laminated wood and plywood?
In laminated wood, all of the grain runs in the same direction. In plywood, the grain in the layers cross the others at a 90° or a 45° angle.
Which wood is more inclined to warp, flat grain or vertical grain?
Flat grain.
What are three types of wood used in aircraft structures?
Spruce
Douglas fir
Noble fir
Western hemlock
Northern white pine
Port Orford white cedar
Yellow poplar
What is the basic wood used for aircraft wing spars?
Sitka spruce.
Can northern white pine be used as a substitute for spruce?
Yes, but it must be increased in size to compensate for its lower strength.
How do you detect decay in a wood structure?
Stick a sharp-pointed knife blade in the suspect area and pry the wood up. If the wood is good, it will come up as a long splinter; if it is decayed it will come up as a chunk.
Are mineral streaks in a piece of structural aircraft wood reason for rejecting the wood?
No, if there is no evidence of decay in the wood.
How is compression wood identified?
It has a high specific gravity, it appears to have an excessive growth of summerwood, and it has little contrast between springwood and summerwood.
Is a hard knot that 1/2-inch in diameter allowed if it is in the web of a wing spar?
No, 3/8-inch diameter is the maximum allowable knot, and it must meet severe restrictions.
Are pin knot clusters allowable in aircraft structural wood?
Yes, if they cause only a small effect on grain direction.
What kind of glue is recommended for making repairs to a wood aircraft structure?
synthetic resin or resorcinol glue.
What reference material may be used for acceptable repairs to wood aircraft structure?
AC 43.13-1B, Chapter 1.
How is a scarf splice on a wing spar reinforced?
Solid spruce or birch plywood reinforcing plates are glue to each side of the spar, centered at each end of the scarf.
What is the correct repair to a wooden aircraft wing spar if the wing-attach bolt holes in the spar are elongated?
Splice in a new section of the spar and drill new holes.
What is the minimum taper to use when repairing a wood wing rib cap strip?
12 times the thickness recommended; 10 times is the minimum.
How is aircraft plywood prepared for making a compound bend?
Soak the wood in hot water until it is pliable.
What is used to apply pressure to a glued joint when splicing a wood aircraft wing spar?
Cabinetmakers’ parallel clamps.
What kind of repair is recommended for a hole in the plywood skin of aircraft wing?
A scarf patch.
What is the recommended taper for a scarf patch in a plywood aircraft skin?
12 to 1.
What is largest hole in a plywood wing skin that can be repaired with a fabric patch?
1-inch in diameter.
How long should a glue joint be kept under pressure when splicing a wood aircraft wing spar?
For at least 7 hours.
Which area of a wood wing spar must not contain any splice?
There must be no splice under wing attach fittings, landing gear fittings, engine mount fittings, or lift and interplane strut fittings.
What is the recommended taper for a splayed patch in a plywood aircraft skin?
5 to 1.
What is done to a splice in a wood aircraft wing spar to strengthen the splice?
Reinforcing plates are glued to both sides of the splice.
When an aircraft is being recovered, when is fungicidal dope applied to the fabric?
With the first coat of dope that is brushed into the fabric
What is the recommended type of repair to a fabric covered aircraft surface when it has an L-shaped tear, with each of the legs of the tear more than 14 inches long?
If the never-exceed speed of the aircraft is less than 150 miles per hour, a doped-on repair can be made.
How is aircraft performance related to the determination of appropriate fabric covering?
Aircraft wing loading and certified never exceed speed determine the fabric strength requirements.
What reference material may be used for acceptable covering methods for fabric-covered aircraft structure?
AC 43.13-1B, Chapter 2.
What are three types of fabric that can be used to cover an aircraft?
Cotton, polyester, and glass fabric.
What material is used for the inter-rib bracing in a fabric-covered aircraft wing?
Cotton reinforcing tape.
What are the two basic types of dope used on fabric-covered aircraft?
Nitrate dope and butyrate (cellulose acetate butyrate, or CAB) dope.
What kind of dope is used on polyester synthetic fabric that has been heat-shrunk on an aircraft structure?
Non-tautening butyrate dope.
What type of fabric is most widely used for covering aircraft structures?
Heat-shrinkable polyester fabric.
What is the preferred seam used for machine-sewing pieces of aircraft fabric together?
The French fell seam.
Should a sewed seam in the fabric used to cover an aircraft wing run spanwise or chordwise?
both spanwise and chordwise seams are permissible, but chordwise seams are preferred.
What type of hand-sewing stitch is used when sewing in a panel of new fabric on an aircraft fabric-covered wing?
A baseball stitch, locked every eight to ten stitches.
What is meant by the selvage edge of a piece of fabric?
It is the woven edge of fabric used to prevent the material unraveling during normal handling.
What is an antitear strip, and when are they required on a fabric-covered aircraft?
An antitear strip is a strip of the same type of fabric as is used for covering the wings. It is laid over the rib between the reinforcing tape and the fabric. An antitear strip is required for aircraft that have a never-exceed speed in excess of 250 mph.
Why are some portions of the structure of an aircraft dope proofed before they are covered with fabric?
Dope proofing keeps the fabric from sticking to the structure when the first coat of dope is applied. The fabric normally sags enough to touch the structure before it begins to pull taut.