Talk:Structural load

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[edit] Load Factor

what is a load factor? somebody answer and make it snappy

[edit] Aircraft Structural Loads

For aircraft, loading is divided into two major categories: limit loads and ultimate loads. Limit loads are often just flight loads and are further divided into maneuvering loads and gust loads. Ultimate loads are just crash loads. Maneuvering loads are determined based on the performance limits of the aircraft whether imposed by the flight manual or by the actual aerodynamic performance of aircraft. Gust loads are determined statistically are are usually just taken from guidelines or requirements given by the regulatory agency. Crash loads are loosely bounded by the ability of humans to survive extreme accelerations and are also typically taken from regulations.

Other loads that may be critical are pressure loads (for pressurized, high-altitude aircraft) and ground loads. Loads on the ground can be from adverse braking or maneuvering during taxi.

Finally, you can discuss aircraft loading without hearing about fatigue and damage tolerance. Aircraft are constantly subjected to cyclic loading. These cyclic loads initiate cracks and cause them to grow.

Oh, one more. Thermal loading is rarely considered for the analysis of the primary structure of aircraft but it can become critical under extreme operating conditions and should be examined where materials of disparate coefficients of thermal expansion are joined.

I'm guessing much of the material in this article was written by a civil engineer. Very similar analyis techniques but very different problems. Jebix 03:37, 8 July 2006 (UTC)

The current article touches on the common loading types for civil infrastructure and land machinery, other types of structures for aerospace (e.g. aircraft, satellites, rockets, spacestations, etc..) and marine (e.g. boats, submarines, etc..) environments would have additional considerations. It is a good idea to add additional load types for these special structures. TVBZ28 13:53, 9 July 2006 (UTC)

Ultimate loads and limit loads are not restricted to aerospace, however they are subsections of dead and dynamic loads - just specific magnitudes of each. Also, I disagree with the differentiation between live and dynamic...they are the same thing and dynamic is absolutely not just live loading on a larger scale - you could possibly argue that live considers the standard operations of a structure or mechanism whereas dynamic is the exceptional circumstance cases but even then its very tenuous and Ive only ever heard that from non Mech Engers (well actually just one person - a civil *engineer*)

Oh...also in my opinion imposed load should be grouped with dynamic and live - Sam Lacey 13:31, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

Yeah I checked with a lecturer of 37years FEA experience and there is no diffence between live and dynamic so this needs changing Sam Lacey 14:04, 24 August 2006 (UTC)