Scott Correa · Sep 05, 2001 11:37 PM
#0 sourceGreat job describing the failure of the wing.
It does beg a question. If the failure occured
at the wing/fuselage interface due to a stress riser,
AND it is attributable to discontinuities in the structure,
Why not eliminate the joint in question?????
Considering the fact that take apart airplanes have
construction joints, why not seperate the airplane
at the leading and trailing edges of the wing and build
the center plug of fuselage integral to the wing as a
primary structure? This eliminates the discontinuities
in wing structure where the wing glues to the fuse.
I bet you could transfer loads from a monolithic centersection
back into the fuselage more cleanly with less structure
than is used with the conventional construction.
All I see of the top of my head as a weight penalty
is 2 extra thin bulkheads, 4 locating dowels and the
actual fasteners holding it together. But I bet
it builds the same if not a bit lighter.
Some other things to consider. Wing filletts would be a snap
and enging mods would be simplified as you could plug in
another nose set-up.
Just thinking out loud while the glue dries.............
Scott Correa