Aircraft Structures Mechanic Glossary – Take Flight with Confidence by Expanding your Knowledge
Glossary of Aircraft Structures:
These examples represent a small selection of commonly used terms within the field of aircraft structures mechanics. In the aviation industry various terms and jargon are utilized depending on the type of aircraft, system, or job at hand. This serves as a starting point for understanding the common lingo.
Main Components:
- Airframe: The mechanical framework of an aircraft excluding the propulsion system.
- Fuselage: The body of the aircraft accommodating passengers, cargo, and cockpit.
- Wings: Airfoils that generate lift to counteract gravity and enable flight.
- Empennage: The tail section consisting of vertical stabilizers for stability and control.
- Undercarriage (Landing Gear): Supports the aircraft during takeoff, landing and taxiing.
Structural Elements:
- Spars: longitudinal beams in the wings that bear most of the bending loads.
- Ribs: members that shape the wing profile and transfer loads to spars.
- Skin: sheets that cover the wings and fuselage providing aerodynamic smoothness.
- . Longeron: Longitudinal stiffeners in the fuselage that resist buckling.
- Bulkheads: panels that divide the fuselage into compartments and add strength.
- Frames: Rings that reinforce the cross section of the fuselage.
Design and Analysis:
- Aspect Ratio: The ratio, between wingspan and average chord length indicating slenderness and efficiency.
- Dihedral Angle: The upward angle at which wings are positioned from their root enhancing stability.
- The sweepback refers to the tilt of the front edge of the wing, which enhances the aircrafts performance at high speeds.
- Camber relates to the curvature of the airfoil enabling lift generation through pressure differences.
- The Center of Gravity (CG) represents the point where the weight of an aircraft is balanced playing a role in maintaining stability.
- The Center of Pressure (CP) designates where aerodynamic forces act on an aircraft influencing control.
- Lift, Drag and Thrust are forces that operate on an aircraft, in different directions.
- Stress and Strain encompass the forces and deformations experienced by a structure.
- Fatigue characterizes material damage caused by repeated loading cycles.
Control Surfaces:
- Ailerons are sections located at the back edge of wings that control rolling movements (banking).
- Elevators are sections situated on horizontal stabilizers that regulate pitching movements (climbing/descending).
- Rudder is a section found on vertical stabilizers that governs yawing movements (turning).
- Flaps are high lift devices positioned on the edge of wings increasing lift during takeoff and landing.
- Spoilers: These are panels located on the surface of the wing, which are used to reduce speed.
Materials and Construction:
- Aluminum alloys: These are commonly used in aircraft due to their lightweight nature, strength, and resistance to corrosion.
- materials: These consist of combinations of fibers and resins offering a high strength to weight ratio.
- Steel: This material is utilized in areas that experience high loads such as landing gear and engine mounts.
- Titanium: Although more expensive it is chosen for high performance aircraft due to its strength and lightweight properties.
- Joining Methods: Riveting, bonding, and welding are techniques employed for joining different parts of an aircrafts structure.
Additional Terminology:
- Cantilever: Refers to a beam that is supported at one end similar to a wing design.
- Monocoupe: Describes an aircraft with a single wing configuration.
- Biplane: Denotes an aircraft with two wings stacked on top of each other.
- T tail: This refers to a stabilizer mounted at a higher position on the vertical stabilizer.
- V tail: It combines the rudder and horizontal stabilizer into a V shaped surface.
- Fail-safe Design: This ensures that with partial failure an aircraft can still operate safely.
Please note that this list provides a foundation for understanding terminology related to aircraft structures. However, there are many other terms to know and use.