The Structural Function of Aircraft Components

The Wing
Is a typical piece of aircraft structure and comprises the following structural elements:-
i. Skin
ii. Spars
iii. Stringers
iv. Ribs

i. Skin

a) supports the aerodynamic pressure distribution which produces the lift ( also
supports fuel pressures) and transfers it primarily to stringers

b) Resists torsional forces on wing (together) with the spar web. Closed thin walled
tubes have high torsional stiffness
 c) Resists Shear force on the wing ( together with the spar webs)

d) Helps the stringer and spar booms resist bending moments( Also , ii , iii)

e) Helps to stabilize the compression boom of spar. i.e. prevent buckling (instability)

f) Helps to stabilize the stingers against buckling

ii. Spars

a. Wing bending (M) creates tensile and compressive end loads in spar booms (and
stringers) , hence the spar booms carry part of the wing bending loads.
 b. The spar web stabilizes the compression boom (Compression boom prevents up &
down movement )
iii. Stringers

a. Helps resist wing bending forces they are end load carriers working (usually) in
tension on the bottom skin and compression on the top skin.

b. Determine the edge conditions for the skin panels in compression and shear
(together with spar booms and ribs)
iv. Ribs

a. Maintain the cross – section shape of aerofoil , due to their rigidity in their own
plane
b. Together with the stringers they support the wing skins and lead the pressure
force into the wing structure – i.e. provide a load path.

c. Control the column length of stringers (Euler bucking)

d. Control the end condition of stringer

e. Leads external forces into the wing structure (i.e. act as a load path) e.g. Flap
track forces, aileron hinge forces, undercarriage forces, etc.
 f. Redistribute the shear stresses in the wing skin and spar web(s) at discontinuities
in structure e.g. U/C bays, inspection panels , control surface boundaries.

The Fuselage

Function of elements is identical to similar elements in wing except that” ribs” become
frames and if they extend right across the fuselage the become bulkheads heave
stringers are called Longerons.