3.3 Principal structural elements in an aircraft
Axial members carry extensional and compressive loads
Also called columns
Bending members carry bending moments
- A subset of bending members are called beams
Torsion members carry twisting moments (torques)
- A subset can be called shafts (but not all torsion members should
be called shafts)
- i.e., Crankshafts
- Other structural members carry torsion
- fuselages
- wings
Shear panel
- A thin sheet of material used to carry in-plane shear load
- Skin (shear member, i.e wing panel)
Beam on an elastic foundation
Membrane
Plates and shells
Curved beams
Combinations
Optimal aerostructures typically combine several structural features:
Original Source Unknown – Multiple Sources
Load Paths
Wing skins \(\Longrightarrow\) stringers \(\Longrightarrow\) ribs \(\Longrightarrow\) spars \(\Longrightarrow\) fuselage
787 Fuselage (Composite Construction)
