Fatigue Failure – Fatigue failure of metal components is by far the most common type of the failure of aircraft components. Fatigue Failure is defined as the progressive and localized structural damage that occurs when a material is subjected to repeated or fluctuating loads (cyclic loading). The maximum stress values are less than the ultimate [...]
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Posted in Aircraft Structure Terms, Aviation Terms | Tagged Aviation Safety, Engineering, Maintenance, Structures
Vortex Generator – A vortex generator is a complementary pair of small low-aspect-ratio airfoils. Generally mounted at opposite angles of attack to each other and perpendicular to the aerodynamic surface they serve, vortex generators improve high- and low-speed characteristics.Like any airfoil, vortex generators develop lift and very strong tip vortices. These tip vortices [...]
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Posted in Aircraft, Featured | Tagged Aircraft, Structures, wings
Semimonocoque – A fuselage design that includes a substructure of bulkheads and/or formers, along with stringers, to support flight loads and stresses imposed on the fuselage.
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Posted in Aircraft, Aircraft Structure Terms | Tagged FAA Pilot's Handbook, Fuselage, Structures
Monocoque Fuselage – A shell-like fuselage design in which the stressed outer skin is used to support the majority of imposed stresses. Monocoque fuselage design may include bulkheads but not stringers.
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Posted in Aircraft, Aircraft Structure Terms | Tagged FAA Pilot's Handbook, Fuselage, Structures
Critical Structure – A load bearing structure/element whose integrity is essential in maintaining the overall flight safety of the aircraft. Note that there
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Posted in Aircraft Structure Terms, FAA Terms | Tagged Approved Data, Major Alterations, Major Repairs, Structures
Primary Structure: Structural components or assemblies that are necessary to sustain design ultimate flight and ground loads.
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Posted in Aircraft Structure Terms, Airline Terms | Tagged Maintenance, Structures
Definition of Aircraft Damage types: Dents, cracks, nicks, scratches, holes, corrosion, delaminations and disbonds
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Posted in Aircraft Structure Terms, Aviation Safety Terms | Tagged Aircraft, Aircraft Damage, Inspection, Maintenance, Structures
Monocoque fuselage design relies on the strength of the skin (also known as the shell or covering) to carry the various loads. True monocoque construction does not use formers, frame assemblies, or bulkheads to give shape to the fuselage.
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Posted in Aircraft Structure Terms | Tagged Aircraft, Inspection, Structures
Semimonocoque Fuselage Design: Semimonocoque fuselage design may use any combination of longerons, stringers,bulkheads, and frames to reinforce the skin and maintain the cross-sectional shape of the fuselage. The skin, which is fastened to all of these members, helps resist shear load and, together with the longitudinal members, the tension and bending loads. Longerons resist the [...]
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Posted in Aircraft Structure Terms | Tagged Aircraft, Structures
Eddy current inspection is often used to distinguish different types of metals or alloys and used to detect surface or near-surface cracks and corrosion of different heat-treat conditions. This technique can be applied to airframe parts and assemblies where the defective area is accessible to contact with the eddy current probe.
The material being inspected must be conductive to electrons in order for a magnetic field to be generated.
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Posted in Aircraft Structure Terms | Tagged Inspection, Safety, Structures
