As it might seem at first glance, the cheapest and easiest way to make a body for air transport is to weld sheet metal pipes. Then why is the airplane body made of duralumin tubes? In this article we will try to expand this topic in the most detailed and accessible way.
What is an airplane body?
This element of the aircraft is also called the fuselage. It serves to perform the connecting and supporting functions, and is considered the main component of the structure. The cockpit, compartments for storing goods and boarding passengers, tanks with combustible material, and cutlery are installed inside the hull. In simple terms, the fuselage is the part that is between people with payloads and the atmosphere.
Why are duralumin tubes used in the construction of the fuselage?
There are at least five reasons for this. The main reasons why the aircraft body is made of duralumin tubes includes:
- Solid sheets do a poor job of thermally protecting the inside of the aircraft’s hull, while tubes do a good job of this.
- Duralumin is a strong, lightweight and highly reliable material.
- If a crack occurs in the case, only one of the tubes will be damaged, and not the entire structure.
- Wires and cables are often mounted in the tube cavity to support aircraft systems.
- Duralumin material is more elastic and not so afraid of deformation.
- By using hollow materials, the manufacturer can save a significant amount of money.
All these facts are quite enough to find out exactly why the aircraft body is made of duralumin tubes. However, let's analyze the features of this material in more detail.
Since airplanes often have to maneuver and experience heavy overloads, it is important that the body material is flexible and resistant to deformation. It is these properties that duralumin possesses. And another important point is the provision of thermal insulation of the cockpit and passenger compartment. On this basis, the aircraft body is made of duralumin tubes.
Why not sheet metal?
Sheet metal simply could not maintain a favorable internal atmosphere, due to which the flight would become less comfortable or would have to spend additional funds on the installation of means to stabilize the internal climate. In addition, thanks to the air contained inside the tubes, it is possible to achieve additional protection for the crew and passengers from pressure drops, which are especially felt at high altitudes.
In addition, in recent years, production technologies have improved significantly, and now the cost of producing aircraft fuselages from duralumin tubes does not hit the manufacturing companies much. And if a few decades ago, due to the high cost of production, it was necessary to overestimate the price of finished products, or to infringe on profit, today this problem is almost completely solved. The need for cheaper sheet materials has disappeared, and now even low-budget companies can afford the production of cases from duralumin pipes. We hope, after reading this material, it became clear to you why the aircraft body is made of duralumin tubes!