Principles of Stressed Skin Aircraft Structures

Most common aircraft structures are typified by arrangements of thin, load bearing skins, frames and stiffeners, fabricated from lightweight, high strength materials of which aluminium alloys are the most widely used examples.

As a preliminary to the analysis of the basic aircraft structural forms presented in subsequent chapters we shall discuss general principles of stressed skin construction from the viewpoint of materials and the loading, function and fabrication of structural components.

1.1 Aircraft Materials

Several factors influence the selection of the structural material for an aircraft, but amongst this strength allied to lightness is probably the most important. Other properties having varying, though sometimes critical significance are stiffness, toughness, resistance to corrosion, fatigue and the effects of environmental heating, ease of fabrication, availability and consistency of supply and, not least important, cost.

The main groups of materials...