CONSTRUCTIONAL FEATURES OF AIRCRAFT STRUCTURE-FUSELAGE

The fuselage of an aircraft is usually constructed in any one or more types of

design mentioned below.
1. Truss type construction
2. Monocoque type construction
3. Semi-monocoque type construction

TRUSS TYPE CONSTRUCTION
This type of construction is usually made up of steel tubing welded
together to form a structure.
Each member of this type of construction is able to carry tension and
compression loads.
When the applied load is reversed, the members that were taking tension
will now take compression and vice versa.
Usually the truss type of construction is covered with fabric.

TRUSS TYPE CONSTRUCTION MONOCOQUE TYPE CONSTRUCTION

MONOCOQUE TYPE CONSTRUCTION
This type of fuselage construction largely relies on the strength of the
skin or covering to carry the primary stresses.
A true monocoque type of construction uses formers, frames, bulkheads
etc., and is covered by the skin.
The monocoque structure can carry loads effectively particularly when
the fuselage is of small diameter.
The biggest problem involved in monocoque construction is maintaining
enough strength while keeping the weight within allowable limits.
In this type of fuselage construction, the skin would carry all the flight
and ground loads.
As the strength of the whole fuselage is in the skin, any damage that
deforms, dents, perforates or creases; it will reduce the skins ability to
carry these loads and can lead to structural failure.

SEMI-MONOCOQUE TYPE CONSTRUCTION
In this type of construction, the loads imposed on the skin are shared by a
series of frames, stringers and formers that are attached to it.
Frames are strong structural members that are made to the cross
sectional contour of the aircraft, circular or oval.
Frames strengthen the fuselage and spread the load.
The vertical structural members of the semi-monocoque type structure
are bulkheads, frames and formers.
The heaviest of these vertical structural members are located at intervals
to carry concentrated loads and also at points where fittings are used to
attach other units such as wings, undercarriage etc.,
Formers are used to maintain the skins profile between the frames.
Primary bending loads are usually taken by the longerons.
The principal longitudinal member of the framing of an aircraft fuselage
or nacelle is called longeron.
Longerons are usually continuous across a number of points of support.
The longerons are supplemented by other longitudinal members called
Stringers.
Stringers are more numerous in number and lighter in weight than
longerons and is usually made of one piece
Stringers and longerons prevent tension and compression loads from
bending the fuselage.
The longerons are strong and heavy.
The longerons hold the bulkheads, frames and formers in its place and
these in turn hold the stringers.
Stringers have some rigidity, and are mainly used for giving shape for the
skin, and also as a means for the attachment of the skin.
Stringers are usually made of aluminium alloy and are manufactured in a
variety of shapes by casting, extrusion or forming.
The longerons are also made of aluminium alloy.
Longeron may be of one-piece or of built-up construction.
A gusset is a type of connecting bracket used to connect longerons,
frames and former etc.,
Heavy frames reinforced by beams attached to webs are usually called as
bulkheads.
The bracing between longerons is often referred to as web members.
These web members may be installed vertically or diagonally.
The structural members such as longerons, frames, formers, stringers,
bulkheads etc., are connected together by rivets, nuts and bolts metal
screws etc.,
The metal skin or covering is riveted to the longerons, bulkheads and
other structural members and carries part of the load.
The thickness of the fuselage skin varies with the load imposed on it at
different locations.
The heaviest skins are those in the lower fuselage surrounding the
openings for the wings and the landing gear doors.


SEMI-MONOCOQUE TYPE CONSTRUCTION

A. AIRCRAFT STRUCTURAL MEMBERS
The following are the structural members used in the construction of aircraft.
DOUBLER:
A piece of sheet metal used to strengthen and stiffen the structure.
FORMER:
An aircraft structural member used to give the fuselage its shape.
Formers are light in weight.
These are usually located between two principle vertical members.
STRINGER
These are used to stiffen and support the skin against buckling.
These are similar to longerons but lighter in construction.
Where possible, stringers run the complete length of the fuselage passing
through small cut-outs in the frames, bulkheads etc.,
The stringers do not usually pass through pressure bulkheads. However,
since any apertures in these members create a sealing problem.

FRAME:
A circumferential structural member in the body that supports the
stringers and skin used in semi-monocoque construction.
Frames are generally spaced at regular intervals along the length of the
fuselage.
These are lighter cross members usually in the form of rings to resist
shear loads and to stiffen and give shape to the fuselage.
These are fitted at close intervals in high stress areas.
Heavy frames are fitted to certain areas of the fuselage where there are
additional stresses-main landing gear attachments-front and rear
attachments-engines.
These may be machined out of solid block.

STRUT:
A supporting brace that bears compression loads, tension loads or both as
in a fuselage between the longerons or in a landing gear to transmit the
airplane loads.
TIE:
A tension loaded part used to attach system parts.
These are designed mainly to withstand tensile stresses.
Usually a solid rod of small cross-sectional area is used as a tie.
BULKHEAD:
A structural member partition that divides the fuselage of an aircraft into
compartments.
Heavy frames reinforced by beams attached to webs are usually called
bulkheads.
Structural bulkheads are used where more strength is needed that can be
provided by a frame and where passage through the fuselage is not
required.
They are often fitted in the rear fuselage and carry the tail unit loads and
for strengthening the fuselage at the ends of a large aperture.
PRESSURE BULKHEADS
Pressure bulkheads form the strong, air-tight ends of the pressurized
cockpit or passenger compartment or pressure hull.
Large pressure bulkheads are often domed so that they can withstand the
pressure loading without deformation.
FUEL TANK BULKHEADS
Where part of the fuselage is used to house flexible fuel tanks, or where
the tanks are an integral part of the fuselage (rare on civil aircraft), a
bulkhead is fitted at the ends of each tank compartment.
For an integral tank these will be completely sealed with provision made
for the attachment of fittings for refueling, engine supply lines, fuel tank
gauging etc.,

FIREPROOF BULKHEADS
Fire proof bulkheads are used to isolate a fire hazard zone, such as an
engine compartment from the rest of the fuselage. These are mandatory.

BEAM:
A structural member loaded at an angle (often at a right angle) to its
length.
These are designed to withstand bending
A beam has the highest stresses on its outside with the least stresses on
the inside.
Beams are therefore designed with most of the material on the outside
tubes, I-sections girders etc.,
The main spar of the airplane wing is a good example for a b

LONGERON:
The principle longitudinal member of an aircraft fuselage or nacelle is
called Longeron.
Primary bending loads are taken by longerons.
Longerons are comparatively heavier than the stringers.
Longerons hold the bulkhead, frames, formers


A structural member loaded at an angle (often at a right angle) to its
These are designed to withstand bending loads.
A beam has the highest stresses on its outside with the least stresses on
Beams are therefore designed with most of the material on the outside
sections girders etc.,
The main spar of the airplane wing is a good example for a b
The principle longitudinal member of an aircraft fuselage or nacelle is
Primary bending loads are taken by longerons.
Longerons are comparatively heavier than the stringers.
Longerons hold the bulkhead, frames, formers and stringers in place.

A structural member loaded at an angle (often at a right angle) to its
A beam has the highest stresses on its outside with the least stresses on
Beams are therefore designed with most of the material on the outside-
The main spar of the airplane wing is a good example for a beam
The principle longitudinal member of an aircraft fuselage or nacelle is
Longerons are comparatively heavier than the stringers.
and stringers in place.