Structural Analysis

Stress
Safety Factor
Bending Moment
Wing Spars
MAE 2
2
MAE 2
Stress
A load (force) applied to a structural element causes stress in the material.
=
F
A
=stress
F=applied force
A=cross section area
Compression
!ension
F F
F F F

F A=0 Force Balance

"
MAE 2
Material Strength
#ield strength represents the ma$imum usea%le stress le&el.
A stress greater than yield strength may lead to permanent distortion .
'ltimate strength represents a stress le&el that may lead to failure.
Material #ield Stength 'ltimate Strength
l%(in
2
l%(in
2
)")* Steel +,"-*** +.*-***
Stainless Steel +,/-*** +0*-***
2*2)1!) Aluminum )2-*** /2-***
2*2/1!, Aluminum 2*-*** 2.-***
!itanium +)"-*** +/2-***
3raphite(Epo$y +2*-*** +2*-***
4e&lar(Epo$y +,*-*** +,*-***
Fi%erglass(Epo$y ,*-*** ,*-***
Aircraft Spruce 0-)** 0-)**
Balsa Wood "-/** "-/**
)
MAE 2
Safety Factor
5n structural design- a safety factor (SF) is often used to account for material
uncertainties
manufacturing &ariations
load &ariations
%oundary attachments (pins- hinges- adhesi&e- ...)
Safety factors for aerospace applications are typically in range from +.+ to +./.
F
design
=SF F
maximum

design
=

material
SF
increase e$pected load reduce material properties
or
/
MAE 2
Bending Stress
A %ending moment causes %oth tension and compression 6ithin the structure.
=
M
I

f
2

=
6 M
g f
2
I =
g f
3
12
end &ie6 side &ie6
=stress
M=applied moment
I =area moment of inertia
g
f
rectangular
cross section
compression
tension
M
,
MAE 2
Wing Structure
leading edge
trailing edge
spars
aileron
ri%s
2
MAE 2
Bending Moment
As a first appro$imation- assume one1half of the total lift is applied as a point load on
the tip of one1half of the 6ing.
b
2
L
2
L=lift
b=wingspan
y=spanwise location
M=
L
2

b
2
y

y
y
M
root
tip
Lb
4
0
Bending Moment
M
.
MAE 2
Bending Moment
A %etter appro$imation assumes one1half of the total lift is applied uniformly along
one1half of the 6ing.
b
2
L
b
L=lift
b=wingspan
y=spanwise location
M=
L
2b

b
2
y

2
y
y
M
root
tip
Lb
8
0
Bending Moment
M
0
MAE 2
Wing Spar Design
Choose the 6idth (g) of a rectangular 6ing spar so that the yield strength is not
e$ceeded during normal flight operations.
7eight of spar (f) is usually set %y airfoil thic8ness.
M=
Lb
8
moment
at 6ing root
=
6 M
g f
2
stress in spar
6ith rectangular
cross1section
=
3 Lb
4 g f
2
com%ine
include SF

yield
SF
=
3 L b
4 g f
2
g= SF
3
4
Lb
f
2

yield
sol&e for 6idth
L=nW=total airplane lift
n=load factor
W=weight
b=wingspan
f =spar height
g=spar width
SF=safety factor

yield
=yield strength
+*
MAE 2
Resources
Wing Flutter
http((666.youtu%e.com(6atch9&:8;5"AWp!WhM