PSN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

(An Autonomous Institution)

Melathediyoor, Tirunelveli-627 152.
(Approved by AICTE, New Delhi and Recognised by UGC under Section 2 (f))
An ISO 9001:2008 Certified Institution
(Accredited by NBA and NAAC, Affiliated to Anna University)
Web Site: www.psncet.ac.in, E-Mail: hodaero@psncet.ac.in
DEPARTMENT OF AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING
EXTERNAL QUESTIONS – ANSWERS

201016 – AIRCRAFT STRUCTURES – II

PART – A

APRIL / MAY 2016 Q.N -1

1. When does unsymmetrical bending take place?
 The section is symmetrical like I section, rectangular section, circular
section, but he load line is inclined to both the principal axes.
 The section itself is unsymmetrical like angle section or a channel
section and load line is along any centroidal axis.
2. Define Neutral axis and give an expression to determine them?
A trace of this plane on any transverse plane of the beam is called the neutal
axis
Or
Neutral axis is defined as the line of intersection of the neutral layer with the
transverse section. Then the stress will be compressive at any point above the
neutral axis and tensile below the neutral axis.
𝐸
∫ 𝑑𝑚 = ∫ 𝑦 2 𝑑𝐴
𝑅
M = E/R . I
𝑀 𝐸
=
𝐼 𝑅
3. What is shear resistant web?

4. Define shear flow and shear center?

 Shear flow: Shear flow is defined as shear force resistant per unit
 length. It is denoted as “q”.
shear flow = shear force / length
unit for shear flow = Newton / meter
 Shear center: It is the point of intersection of the bending axis and the
plane of the transverse section. It is a point about which the applied
force is balanced by the set of shear forces obtained by summing the
shear stress over the section. Also shear center is known as center of
twist.
5. State the Bredt – Batho formula and list the assumption involved?
Bredt – Batho formula is used to find the torque of closed thin section.
T=2Aq
𝑞
𝜏=
𝑡
Where,
Q = Shear flow
τ =Shear stress
Assumption;
The closed tube is thin and prismatic
Torque is applied on end fixtures
The warping is freely allowed
6. How do you determine the shear flow and angle of twist for a closed single
cell under?
𝑇
Shear flow q =
2𝐴
Where,
 T = Twist on the closed section
 A= Area enclosed by the tube wall
 q= Shear flow
𝑞 𝑑𝑠
Angle of twist 𝜃 = ∫
𝐴2𝐺 𝑡
Where,
 G = shear modulus or modulus of rigidity
 θ =angle of twist
 t = thickness of the section
7. Show that when a thin web carries a constant shear flow q the resulting
torque T about an arbitrary point O is given by the formula T= 2 A q
 8. Explain Buckling in compression for a plate?
 Boundary and loading conditions for a simply – supported plate in
bending.
 The critical elastic buckling stress for plates in not affected by wave
length stiffening because unstiffened strip buckling of the compression
flange consistently governs and buckling between holes is not observed.
9. Define Strain energy and resilience?
In material science, resilience is the ability of a material to absorb energy
when it is deformed elastically, and release that energy upon unloading. Proof
resilience is defined as the maximum energy that can be absorbed up to the
elastic limit, without creating a permanent distortion.
10. Explain how a thin beam subjected to shear resists the load?

****************************************************
APRIL / MAY 2017 Q.N -2
1. When does unsymmetrical bending take place?
The section is symmetrical like I section, rectangular section, circular
section, but he load line is inclined to both the principal axes.
The section itself is unsymmetrical like angle section or a channel
section and load line is along any centroidal axis
2. Define Neutral axis and give an expression to determine them?
A trace of this plane on any transverse plane of the beam is called the neutal
axis
Or
Neutral axis is defined as the line of intersection of the neutral layer with the
transverse section. Then the stress will be compressive at any point above the
neutral axis and tensile below the neutral axis.
𝐸
∫ 𝑑𝑚 = ∫ 𝑦 2 𝑑𝐴
𝑅
M = E/R . I
𝑀 𝐸
=
𝐼 𝑅
3. Define shear flow. How shear stress is obtained from shear flow?
 Shear flow: Shear flow is defined as shear force resistant per unit
length. It is denoted as “q”.
shear flow = shear force / length
unit for shear flow = Newton / meter
Shear stress is obtained from shear flow:
When a transverse shear force is applied to a structure, such as a beam, the
result is variation in bending normal stresses along the length of the beam.
This variation necessitates an internal horizontal shear stress within the beam
that varies with position y1 from the neutral axis in the beam.
4. Define shear center and Elastic axis?
 Shear center: It is the point of intersection of the bending axis and the
plane of the transverse section. It is a point about which the applied force
is balanced by the set of shear forces obtained by summing the shear
stress over the section. Also shear center is known as center of twist
 Elastic axis: The elastic axis of a beam is the line, lengthwise of the
beam, along which transverse loads must be applied in order to produce
bending only with no torsion on the beam at any section.

5. Is multi cell tube structure determinate or indeterminate? Justify

 A multi cell tube is statically indeterminate structure.
Justify:
 Numbers of equation available are less than of number of unknowns that
is called statically indeterminate.
 Here only one torque equation is available. So the multi – cell structure
subject to a torque load is statically indeterminate.
6. Give expression for torque and cell twist of a two cell structure?
Torque T= 2qA
Where,
 T = torque
 q = shear flow
 A = area of the section
twist of a two cell structure torque equation:
T = 2q1A1 + 2q2A2
 𝐿 𝑞𝑑𝑠
∅= ∮
2𝐴𝐺 𝑡
7. Define crippling stress?
If the lateral dimensions of the column is very small compared to its length,
then the failure may occur due to bending (also known as buckling or
crippling). The load at which the column buckles is the crippling load, and the
corresponding stress is known as crippling stress.
8. Define flexural rigidity of a thin plate?
Flexural rigidity is defined as the force couple required to bend a non- rigid
structure in one unit of curvature or it can be defined as the resistance offered
by a structure while undergoing bending.
9. What is Mohr’s circle & name any the situations where it is used?
Mohr’s circle is a graphical representation of a general state of stress at a
point. It is a graphical method used for evaluation of principal stresses,
maximum shear stress; normal and tangential stresses on any given plane.
Use of Mohr’s circle:
To find out the normal, resultant and principle stresses and their planes.
10. Define Strain energy and resilience?
In material science, resilience is the ability of a material to absorb energy
when it is deformed elastically, and release that energy upon unloading. Proof
resilience is defined as the maximum energy that can be absorbed up to the
elastic limit, without creating a permanent distortion.

****************************************************
APIRL / MAY – 2016 Q.N - 3
1. When does unsymmetrical bending take place?
The section is symmetrical like I section, rectangular section, circular
section, but he load line is inclined to both the principal axes.
The section itself is unsymmetrical like angle section or a channel
section and load line is along any centroidal axis
2. Define Neutral axis and give an expression to determine them.
A trace of this plane on any transverse plane of the beam is called the neutal
axis
 Or
Neutral axis is defined as the line of intersection of the neutral layer with the
transverse section. Then the stress will be compressive at any point above the
neutral axis and tensile below the neutral axis.
𝐸
∫ 𝑑𝑚 = ∫ 𝑦 2 𝑑𝐴
𝑅
M = E/R . I
𝑀 𝐸
=
𝐼 𝑅
3. Define shear flow. How shear stress is obtained from shear flow?
 Shear flow: Shear flow is defined as shear force resistant per unit
length. It is denoted as “q”.
shear flow = shear force / length
unit for shear flow = Newton / meter
Shear stress is obtained from shear flow:
When a transverse shear force is applied to a structure, such as a beam, the
result is variation in bending normal stresses along the length of the beam.
This variation necessitates an internal horizontal shear stress within the beam
that varies with position y1 from the neutral axis in the beam.
4. Define shear centre and Elastic axis.
 Shear center: It is the point of intersection of the bending axis and the
plane of the transverse section. It is a point about which the applied force
is balanced by the set of shear forces obtained by summing the shear
stress over the section. Also shear center is known as center of twist
 Elastic axis: The elastic axis of a beam is the line, lengthwise of the
beam, along which transverse loads must be applied in order to produce
bending only with no torsion on the beam at any section.
5. State the Bredt-Batho formula and list the assumptions involved.
Bredt – Batho formula is used to find the torque of closed thin section.
T=2Aq
𝑞
𝜏=
𝑡
Where,
Q = Shear flow
τ =Shear stress
 Assumption;
The closed tube is thin and prismatic
Torque is applied on end fixtures
The warping is freely allowed

6. How do you determine the shear flow and angle of twist for a closed single
cell under torsion?
𝑇
Shear flow q =
2𝐴
Where,
 T = Twist on the closed section
 A= Area enclosed by the tube wall
 q= Shear flow
𝑞 𝑑𝑠
Angle of twist 𝜃 = ∫
𝐴2𝐺 𝑡
Where,
 G = shear modulus or modulus of rigidity
 θ =angle of twist
 t = thickness of the section

7. Define crippling stress.

If the lateral dimensions of the column is very small compared to its length,
then the failure may occur due to bending (also known as buckling or
crippling). The load at which the column buckles is the crippling load, and the
corresponding stress is known as crippling stress.
8. Define flexural rigidity of a thin plate.
Flexural rigidity is defined as the force couple required to bend a non- rigid
structure in one unit of curvature or it can be defined as the resistance offered
by a structure while undergoing bending.
9. What is a semi tension field beam?
 Buckling and tension field beam for aerospace structure.
 The beam is assumed to have a complete tension field web.
 If the cross- section areas of the flange and stiffeners are respectively,
350mm2 and 300mm2 and elastic section modulus of each flange is 750
mm3
10. What do you understand by monocoque and semi monocoque type of
aircraft Construction
  Monocoque structures: Unstiffened shells. must be relatively thick to
resist bending, compressive, and torsional loads.

 Semi-monocoque Structures: Constructions with stiffening members

that may also be required to diffuse concentrated loads into the cover.

****************************************************
OCT / NOV - 2016 Q.N - 4
1. State the importance of shear center?
 Beam having two axis of symmetry the shear center coincide with the
centroid.
 Section having one axis of symmetry the shear center does not coincide
with the centroid but lies on the axis of symmetry.
 When load passes through the shear center then there will be only
bending in the cross section and no twisting.
2. Show a typical stress distribution for an open/ closed section undergoing
unsymmetrical bending?

3. Explain shear center with examples?

It is the point of intersection of the bending axis and the plane of the transverse
section. It is a point about which the applied force is balanced by the set of
shear forces obtained by summing the shear stress over the section. Also shear
center is known as center of twist
4. Explain torsional stiffness and its equation

5. What is Bredt – Batho formula?

Bredt – Batho formula is used to find the torque of closed thin section.
T=2Aq
𝑞
𝜏=
𝑡
Where,
Q = Shear flow
τ =Shear stress
Assumption;
The closed tube is thin and prismatic
Torque is applied on end fixtures
The warping is freely allowed
6. How do you determine the shear flow and angle of twist for a closed single
cell under torsion?

𝑇
Shear flow q =
2𝐴
Where,
 T = Twist on the closed section
 A= Area enclosed by the tube wall
 q= Shear flow
𝑞 𝑑𝑠
Angle of twist 𝜃 = ∫
𝐴2𝐺 𝑡
Where,
 G = shear modulus or modulus of rigidity
 θ =angle of twist
t = thickness of the section
7. What is effective width?
The theoretically defined as the width of the slab that has a constant. Stress
distribution max equal to the maximum value of the actual.
8. Sketch the buckling mode of plate in (a) compression (b) shear

9. Draw a neat sketch of an Aircraft wing configuration?

10. List some parts and functions of aircraft structure?
 SPARS: The spars are the main structural member of the wing, running
span wise at right angles to the fuselage.
 RIBS: the ribs are attached to the main spars, and by being repeated at
frequent intervals, form a skeletal shape for the wing
 SKIN: it transmits the aerodynamic forces to the longitudinal and
transverse supporting members by plate and membrane action.