What is meant by monocoque and semi monocoque aircraft constructions?

Question

What is meant by monocoque and semi monocoque aircraft constructions?

Answer 1

Matt has it pretty much right.

The idea of monocoque construction is that the skin

carries the stress so the interior can be open and

weight can be reduced.

Answer 2

its been a while, but monocoque is the fuselauge is designed with the middle open. It uses stringers and headers as its design, which hold together the cylindrical shape. You can put stuff in the middle, such as passengers or cargo. Its the design you would see on most (if not all) large commercial aircraft.

Semi monocoque is another type of construction where it uses the same ideas as monocoque, but also has a truss frame encorperated. I could be wrong on this one, but you could look it up on wikipedea.

But both are types of construction of the fuselauge.

Answer 3

in other terms, the monocoque construction looks like the egg, hwile the semimonocoque construction would look like egg shell reinforced in inside with lots os small beams running along the shell.

in both, the skins carries most of the torque and twisting forces that are loading the construction.  while the monocoque transports/contains all of the forces through the "skin", the semi monocoque needs suplementary beams SMALLER/thinner than in similar size common construtions. the reason is that still the skin carries a lot of the load.

in common constructions the skin solely transfers the suction/pressure of air into the airframe and is not transferring the torque/bending forces.

main advantage of the monocoque and semimonocoque constructions is saving the weight of construction, leaving the inside open for tanks and installations, and simplyfying the construction. it is the favourite construction for composite materials and titanium /monocoque/ and dural/alluminium alloys /semimonocoque/

Answer 4

Monocoque or unitary construction in aircraft means that the skin of the structure is stressed to take all the loads and torsional stresses without any internal bracing or strengthening. It is much like most of the cars which are constructed without the chassis.

Semi-monocoque structure is same as above, except, it has internal stringers, spars and formers with which to strengthen the structure.