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Lesson 2 STRUCTURE CLASSIFICATION

Aircraft structures can be classified in three ways: 1) Primary structures are critical load-bearing structures whose failure could cause loss of control or serious injury. Examples include spars, longerons, and stressed skin. 2) Secondary structures are also load-bearing but have excess strength so some weakening is allowed without risk of failure. Examples include floorings. 3) Tertiary structures are non-critical with low stresses but are still needed. Examples include light brackets.

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957 views3 pages

Lesson 2 STRUCTURE CLASSIFICATION

Aircraft structures can be classified in three ways: 1) Primary structures are critical load-bearing structures whose failure could cause loss of control or serious injury. Examples include spars, longerons, and stressed skin. 2) Secondary structures are also load-bearing but have excess strength so some weakening is allowed without risk of failure. Examples include floorings. 3) Tertiary structures are non-critical with low stresses but are still needed. Examples include light brackets.

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jeevan basnyat
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TRAINING NOTES

CODE: D206/002
IIAE Airframe Structure - I
TECHNICAL RESEARCH CELL

Structure Classification: Primary, secondary and tertiary

Introduction

Owing to the loads on similar members varying with different types of a/c it is not
practical to base the standard repair scheme on this information; instead the repairs are based
on the restoration of highly stressed members to their original strength. This entails robust
repairs to members which are not highly stressed, with consequence wastage of time and
material. This is unavoidable at present, but methods are being devised to improve the
standardization of repairs: one method is the classification of the airframe into primary.
Secondary and tertiary structures which will be adopted for future repair schemes in A.P.
2662B.

Owing to the difficulty of formulating repair instruction for members or parts of similar
size designed to take different loads, and to overcome the inherent disadvantage of standard
repair procedure to a certain extent, the airframe structure has been divided into three
classifications.

Classification of structure

(a) Primary structure: These are points of the structure in which a single failure, whether in
flight, landing, or take-off might cause structural collapse, loss of control, failure of motive
power; unintentional release of bombs, torpedoes, or any other item of jettisionable equipment
or serious injury to members of the air crew. e.g., spars longerons, engine mounting,
stressed skin etc.

(b) Secondary structure: These are portions of the structure which would normally be
regarded as primary structure but which unavoidably have such a reserve of strength over
design requirements that appreciable weakening may be permitted without the risk of failure,
and also structures which, if damaged, would not impair the safety of the a/c in any manner
specified above for primary structure. eg Floorings.

(c) Tertiary structure: All unimportant parts in which stresses are low but which for various
reasons cannot be omitted from the aircraft, e.g. light bracket.

Aircraft Structures and their Classifications


Aircraft

Structures are the structures, large and small, common or uncommon, that make up aircraft of any sort, size, or
purpose.

Purpose
Structures fulfill a purpose in an aircraft, either simple or complex. Each sub-structure interfaces with the other
structures in the same aircraft. Ultimately parts work together to accomplish safe flight.

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TRAINING NOTES
CODE: D206/002
IIAE Airframe Structure - I
TECHNICAL RESEARCH CELL

Classification

General
Aircraft structures may be classified by any of the following general categories.

o purpose
o integration with other structures and the aircraft as a whole
o history of the structure
o problems and successes of the structure
o value to the particular aircraft
o cost
o supply
o manufacturer
o wear characteristics
o safety quotient
o popularity
o specified use
o hazards relative to the structure
o inspection challenges
o maintenance
o replacement protocol.

By type of wing
Aircraft structures may be classified by the type of wing employed, as this dictates much of the supporting structure:

o Single planar winged


o Non-planar winged
o Biplane
o Triplane
o Ring winged
o Spanwise rotary winged
o Vertical rotary axis winged
o Morphable wing
o Flexible winged
o Rigid winged
o Flying wing
o parachutes and dogues
o Lifting bodies
o Winged man system
o Reentry-from-space vehicle

Classic aircraft structures


Classic aircraft components:

o Wing (skins, spars, ribs)


o Fuselage (skin, bulkhead, frame, heavy frames and bulkheads)
o Control system
o Thrust system
o Empennage
o Stringers or longerons
o Spars
TRAINING NOTES
CODE: D206/002
IIAE Airframe Structure - I
TECHNICAL RESEARCH CELL

o Landing system
o Launching system
o Accessory structures on board

The interaction of these structural components with mechanical systems may include: [citation needed]

o Undercarriage
o Ejection seat
o Powerplant

The locations of major components and systems will optimise the aircraft's weight and strength. For example in most
modern military jets the heavy frame in the fuselage that supports the nose undercarriage also has the ejector seat
rail mounted to it. In this way the frame has multiple functions, thus reducing weight and cost.

The location of structural components is also important with respect to the aircraft's center-of-gravity, which has
great effect on the aircraft's stability.

The materials and manufacturing techniques of the structural components are optimized during the design process.
For example, stringers may be manufactured by bending sheet metal or by extrusion to optimize weight and cost,
whereas a robust frame that supports a heavy component such as an engine may be a cast or machined to optimize
strength

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