[QUOTEImpressive... these guys should try lottery][/QUOTE]
That is exactly it. Impressive and far from normal.
Quote:
Also remember that the limits for which the planes were designed were theoretical values based on experimental data on material properties obtained through probe measuring and some hand formula and sort of thump rules. These values also contained a certain margin that was dimension by some regulatory rules based on more thump rules.
No finite element methods back then.
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They are not theoretical values for structures. They could teach us a thing or two about subsonic aerodyanmics and piston engine aircraft design. The area's they lacked in were transonic realm, supersonic realm, and stability/control engineering.
Aircraft structure load limits are tested to destruction and are measured data.
Do you know how they tested the structural strength of a wing?
Simple, they suspended it and loaded it up with sandbags until it breaks. Now there are some things you have to do to make it applicable to air loads but that is the basic concept.
Today we use hydraulics.....
05-11-2012, 12:30 AM
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