Introduction to Aerospace Engineering
Lecture slides
Challenge the future 1
Structures
Aircraft & spacecraft wing structures
Faculty of Aerospace Engineering
22-11-2011
Delft
University of
Technology
Challenge the future
Learning objectives
Student should be able to…
• List typical structural elements for wing structure
• Skin
• Stringers
• Ribs
• Spars
• Explain functions of
• Ribs
• Spars
• Skin-spar assembly
Structures 2 | 22
Wing structures
Structural characteristics
• Structural elements
• Spars
• Ribs
• Skin
• Stringers
• Note
• Orientations of
spars & ribs
Structures 3 | 22
Wing structures
Structural characteristics
• Wing panels can be very long (difficult to manufacture)
• Centre/outer wing (inboard/outboard)
• Splices/joints/fitting
Structures 4 | 22
Wing structures
Function of ribs
• Maintain aerodynamic profile of wing
• Transfer aerodynamic & fuel loads on skin to structure
• Provide stability against panel buckling
• Introduce local load into the structure
• i.e. landing gear, engines, flaps, ailerons, etc
• Sealing the integral fuel tank
• Fuel surge/splashing
Structures 5 | 22
Wing structures
Function of ribs
• No ribs
• Crushing
• Not enough ribs
• Buckling
• Rib pitch
• ~20 - 100 cm
Structures 6 | 22
Wing structures
Types of ribs
• Selection of rib type and manufacturing method depends on
• Loads
• Design philosophy
• Available equipment and experience
• Costs
• Form & plate ribs
• Stiffening profile
• Low loads
• Forged or machined ribs
• Very high loads
Structures 7 | 22
Wing structures
Rib – stringer intersections
• Three general solutions
• Both rib and stringer not interrupted
• Stringer interrupted
• Rib interrupted
Structures 8 | 22
Wing structure
Function of spars
• Carry wing bending loads
• Aerodynamic forces (Lift) create bending
Structures 9 | 22
Wing structure
Bending deformation
• Assume: wing clamped
• 1 - little deformation
• 4 - strong deformation 4
1
• Diagonal elements!
1 4
• Add diagonal elements… …or better: sheet
Structures 10 | 22
Wing structure
Spars
• The basic form of the spar is the I-beam. The spar consists of
• Spar caps/girders (flanges)
• Web (plate)
• The web performs the diagonal function
auxiliary spar
false spar 3 spars
Structures 11 | 22
Wing structure
Spars
• The forces are greater at the root ⇒ the spar must be thicker
(difficult with extruded spar caps)
root
• Built up adhesive bonded
sheet metal
Structures 12 | 22
Wing structure
Spars types
• Similar to ribs..
Structures 13 | 22
Wing structure
Built-up spars
• Extruded spar cap Sheet metal cap
Structures 14 | 22
Torsion box
Single spar
• Single spar: low resistance against torsion
• Two spars: Differential Bending
Rear spar
Forward spar
• Torsion is transferred in bending R.S. upwards and F.S. downward
• Spars give good resistance
• Closed cylinder: Best against torsion !
Structures 15 | 22
Torsion box
Torsion box
• Closed section has high resistance to torsion
(not necessarily circular!)
• Rectangular shape
• Deforms like
Structures 16 | 22
Torsion box
Blackburn Duncanson
• Single spar, torsion box
and fuel tank in one
Structures 17 | 22
Torsion box
Wing structure as closed box
1. Thicker skin
• take up aerodynamic forces
• part of the torsion box
• partially takes over role of spar caps (bending function)
2. Degenerated spar caps
3. Thicker web - bending function
and part of the torsion box
4. Stringers - support the skin and
partially take over role of spar caps
5. Rib
Structures 18 | 22
Torsion box
Advantages
• Completely free load bearing structure, no support or strut
• Thinner wings (at given span) or longer wings (at given thickness)
• Torsion stiffness and bending stiffness can be engineered
separately
• Lower weight
Structures 19 | 22
Wing structure - example
Fokker 100 outer wing
Structures 20 | 22
Summary
Aircraft & spacecraft structures
• Wing structural elements
• Spar, rib, skin, stringers
• Function of rib
• Primarily maintaining wing shape and avoiding buckling of skin
• Function of spar
• Primarily resisting bending
Structures 21 | 22
