Pulished on Apr. 19, 2021
The design of an aircraft must take into account a variety of factors, such as efficiency, comfort, safety and reliability. However, the importance of each of these aspects depends entirely on the type of aircraft to be designed, which can vary from fighter aircraft to commercial aircraft.
As a result, the design of an aircraft must meet specific requirements, which affect the complexity of its structure and the materials used in its construction. A wide range of materials can be used in the design of an aircraft to take advantage of properties such as strength, elasticity, specific gravity and corrosion resistance.
Depending on the initial requirements of the strength/weight ratio and the preferred direction of the applied load, different materials can also be used in the design of specific parts of the aircraft.
Wood is a material with mechanical and physical properties that meet the criteria required for the manufacture of aircraft components. When used in laminated structures, the material has a high strength-to-weight ratio and is resistant to unfavourable environmental conditions if it is first treated with a specific preservative.
Wood was the original material of choice in the early days of aircraft construction, but the high strength-to-weight ratio of other available materials (metallic and non-metallic), which are therefore lightweight and resistant to corrosion, has led to the discontinuation of the use of timber structures in modern aircraft.
The metals used in aircraft manufacturing include steel, aluminium, titanium and their alloys. Aluminium alloys are characterised by their lower density value (approximately one third) compared to steel alloys and their good corrosion resistance. However, steel alloys have a higher tensile strength as well as a higher modulus of elasticity. As a result, steel is used in the design of aircraft components where strength is important, for example in the design of landing gear.
Titanium is also used in the design of aircraft structures because it is a lightweight, strong and corrosion-resistant metal. This material is used in conjunction with certain specially designed heat-resistant alloys, such as nickel-based high-temperature alloys, for the manufacture of certain engine components.
The wings of a modern aircraft can be designed as a combination of different types of materials, depending on their specific structural function. The structure of the wing of an aircraft is comprised of several different elements, namely spars, skin and ribs, as well as control surfaces, such as ailerons and flaps.
Each of these components needs to support different loads and, thus, the right material needs to be selected. Steel and aluminium alloys can be used in the manufacture of ribs, whilst composite materials can be used in the design of the wing skin and the control surfaces.
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