AMT 1105 MIdterm Module 1 2

AIRCRAFT
STRUCTURES
Midterm
WINGS
Wings are airfoils that move rapidly through the
air, create lift.
LOW WING
- WINGS ARE ATTACHED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FUSELAGE
ADVANTAGES :
• EASY TO REFUEL
• BETTER VISIBILITY ABOVE AT THE SIDES OF AIRCRAFTS
• BETTER GROUND EFFECT WHICH INCREASE LIFT AND REDUCES
DRAG WHEN ITS NEARER TO THE SURFACE
DISADVANTAGES
• LOW PASSENGER VISIBILITY
MID WING
WINGS ARE ATTACHED AT THE MID PORTION OF FUSELAGE.
IT IS USED BY MILITARY AIRCRAFT.
ADVANTAGES:
• BETTER ROLLING
• LESS INTERFERENCE DRAG
• ALLOW TO CARRY WEAPONS
DISVANTAGES:
• OCCUPIES LOT OF USEFUL FUSELAGE VOLUME
HIGH WING
WINGS ARE ATTACHED AT THE TOP OF THE FUSELAGE.
ADVANTAGES:
• BETTER VISIBILITY
• LOTS OF SPACE FOR GROUND STAFF DURING MAINTENANCE
DISVANTAGES:
• DIFFICULT TO REFUEL
Aspect Ratio = Span/Chord
High Aspect Ratio = Span Greater than Chord

Low Aspect Ratio =Chord Greater than Span
Wing Structure
Often wings are of full cantilever design. This means they are built so that no external
bracing is needed. They are supported internally by structural members assisted by the
skin of the aircraft. Other aircraft wings use external struts or wires to assist in supporting
the wing and carrying the aerodynamic and landing loads
Short, nearly vertical supports

called jury struts are found on struts that attach to the wings a
great distance from the fuselage.
Wing Structure
• FULL CANTILEVER - Strongest wing structure which attached directly to the

fuselage and does not have any type of external stress bearing structure
• SEMI CANTILEVER - Usually has one or two supporting wires or struts attached
on each wing and fuselage.
• EXTERNALLY BRACED - Typical of a biplane ( two wings placed one above the
other ) with its struts and wires.
WINGS
Both the leading edge and the trailing edge of the
wing may be straight or curved, or one edge
may be straight and the other curved.
WING PARTS
The internal structures of most wings are made up of spars and stringers
running spanwise and ribs and formers or bulkheads running chordwise
(leading edge to trailing edge).
The spars - are the principle structural members of a wing. They

support all distributed loads, as well as concentrated weights such as the
fuselage, landing gear, and engines.
The skin - which is attached to the wing structure, carries part of the
loads imposed during flight. It also transfers the stresses to the wing ribs.
The ribs - in turn, transfer the loads to the wing spars.

SPARS
RIBS SKIN
In general, wing construction is based on one of three fundamental designs:
1. Monospar - incorporates only one main spanwise or longitudinal member in its
construction. Ribs or bulkheads supply the necessary contour or shape to the airfoil.
2. Multispar - incorporates more than one main longitudinal member in its

construction. To give the wing contour, ribs or bulkheads are often included.
3. Box beam - wing construction uses two main longitudinal members with
connecting bulkheads to furnish additional strength and to give contour to the wing.
Modification of these basic designs may be adopted by various manufacturers.

MONOSPAR MULTI SPAR
BOX BEAM SPAR

Wing Ribs
• Ribs are the structural crosspieces that combine with spars and stringers to make up
the framework of the wing.
• They usually extend from the wing leading edge to the rear spar or to the trailing edge
of the wing.
• The ribs give the wing its cambered shape and transmit the load from the skin and
stringers to the spars.
• Similar ribs are also used in ailerons, elevators, rudders, and stabilizers.
Wing Ribs
Wing Skin
Wing Skin
is designed to carry part of the flight and ground loads in combination

with the spars and ribs. This is known as a stressed-skin design.
The wing skin on an
aircraft may be made
from a wide variety of
materials such as
fabric, wood, or
aluminum. But a single
thin sheet of material is
not always employed.
Chemically milled
aluminum skin can
provide skin of varied
thicknesses.
Other components
attached near the wing
area
Nacelles
Nacelles
Nacelles (sometimes called “pods”) are streamlined enclosures used primarily to house the
engine and its components. They usually present a round or elliptical profile to the wind thus
reducing aerodynamic drag. On most single-engine aircraft, the engine and nacelle are at the
forward end of the fuselage.
PYLON
is a rigid structure used to hold the heavy

aircraft engine in its place and position under
or over an aircraft's wings.
FIREWALL
is incorporated to isolate the engine compartment from
the rest of the aircraft. This is basically a stainless steel or
titanium bulkhead that contains a fire in the confines of
the nacelle rather than letting it spread throughout the
airframe.
Engine mounts
are also found in the nacelle. These are the

structural assemblies to which the engine is
fastened. They are usually constructed from
chrome/molybdenum steel tubing in light
aircraft and forged chrome/nickel/
molybdenum assemblies in larger aircraft.
Cowling
refers to the detachable panels covering those
areas into which access must be gained
regularly, such as the engine and its
accessories. It is designed to provide a smooth
airflow over the nacelle and to protect the
engine from damage.

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AIRCRAFT

High Aspect Ratio = Span Greater than Chord

Short, nearly vertical supports

• FULL CANTILEVER - Strongest wing structure which attached directly to the

The spars - are the principle structural members of a wing. They

The ribs - in turn, transfer the loads to the wing spars.

2. Multispar - incorporates more than one main longitudinal member in its

Modification of these basic designs may be adopted by various manufacturers.

BOX BEAM SPAR

is designed to carry part of the flight and ground loads in combination

is a rigid structure used to hold the heavy

are also found in the nacelle. These are the

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