Steel is stiff and strong (both prerequisites in the design of an efficient structure) but its high density makes it very heavy (density of wood approximately 500 - 800 \( kg/m^3 \) vs steel 7800 \( kg/m^3 \)). New methods were sought and steel was investigated as a replacement for wood. As the flight speed and wing loading of newer designs increased, the variation of the structural properties of the wood and its susceptibility to environmental degradation meant that wooden structures were no longer an efficient means of production. Piper PA-18 Super Cub with a Space Frame Fuselageīy the end of the First World War limitations in the the use of wooden truss configurations were being identified. One popular aircraft designed with a space frame fuselage is the iconic PA-18 Piper Super Cub which is pictured below. A space frame is a simple albeit inefficient way of building a fuselage structure as the fabric skins add weight without contributing to the rigidity of the structure. In this fuselage configuration the force members of the truss provide the structural stiffness, and the aerodynamic covering provides the shape, but does not add much to the overall stiffness of the structure. Often wood was used as the primary structural material with a fabric covering providing the aerodynamic shape. The earliest aircraft fuselages were built with a space frame or truss like construction. Three common design methodologies are described below in chronological order leading up to the semi-monocoque design that is most prevalent today. Throughout the years a number of design principles have been adopted regarding the structural layout of a fuselage. Let’s start by examining three popular design methodologies for the structural design of a fuselage.
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