Understanding Aircraft Structures, 3rd ed.

Citation

(1999), "Understanding Aircraft Structures, 3rd ed.", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 71 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.1999.12771cae.001

Understanding Aircraft Structures, 3rd ed.

Understanding Aircraft Structures, 3rd ed.John Cutler

Keywords Aircraft, Publication

This is a very accessible introduction to the subject of aircraft structures. It is well-illustrated and covers a wide field. It is probably best used as an undergraduate or new trainee text, as it explains much of modern structural design practice and the terminology used. One of the difficulties of such a book, however, is that as it covers such a large spectrum, each of the sections is rather simplistic, and it does not give tools to do such things as loading actions calculations and detail stressing.

The example of detail design and stressing shown in the appendices, could usefully be augmented by further examples.

The chapters on composite materials and on airworthiness are useful additions.

The book would benefit from a more extensive bibliography to refer readers to books with more detailed coverage of some of the topics in this book. They would include old books such as those by Bruhn and Roark (quoted in chapter 12) and more recent books by NIU.

Professor J.P. Fielding