Thunderchook
Well-Known Member
Hi all,
So, there are a few different ways of building a fuselage.
Wood I hate. (We just don't get along!)
Welded Chromoly is good but hard to source (down here, I'm told) and quite expensive, especially given I'd need to pay a certified welder to do the job.
Riveted sheetmetal aluminum - quite involved and requires some special sheetmetal tools which are large and quite expensive.
But gusseted aluminum tubing - that I can do.
Question is, though: What are the drawbacks of this construction technique?
I had read on another site that gusseted aluminum can, due to vibrational stresses etc, have a limited airframe life. (One site said approx. 300 hours - is this true?)
How does its overall strength compare to other methods?
I am told that welding aluminum actually weakens the strength of the metal but it can, using various methods, be brought back to strength but this is expensive.
How does a welded aluminum frame compare to a gusseted aluminum frame?
Also, I am wondering if there is nothing that can be done to reinforce a gusseted joint and/or provide dampening to lessen the effects of vibration?
Can anyone clue me in on this?
Thanks,
Thunderhook.
So, there are a few different ways of building a fuselage.
Wood I hate. (We just don't get along!)
Welded Chromoly is good but hard to source (down here, I'm told) and quite expensive, especially given I'd need to pay a certified welder to do the job.
Riveted sheetmetal aluminum - quite involved and requires some special sheetmetal tools which are large and quite expensive.
But gusseted aluminum tubing - that I can do.
Question is, though: What are the drawbacks of this construction technique?
I had read on another site that gusseted aluminum can, due to vibrational stresses etc, have a limited airframe life. (One site said approx. 300 hours - is this true?)
How does its overall strength compare to other methods?
I am told that welding aluminum actually weakens the strength of the metal but it can, using various methods, be brought back to strength but this is expensive.
How does a welded aluminum frame compare to a gusseted aluminum frame?
Also, I am wondering if there is nothing that can be done to reinforce a gusseted joint and/or provide dampening to lessen the effects of vibration?
Can anyone clue me in on this?
Thanks,
Thunderhook.
