Bob Kuykendall wrote:
Earlier, Bruce Greeff wrote:


...Similarly the latest carbon designs
seem to have G limits imposed by
the JAR22 deflection limits rather
than ultimate strength...


I'll certainly agree that composite sailplane structure is bounded
more by stiffness than by strength.

I've been told that is more likely true for fiberglass construction, but
not so likely to be true for carbon fiber construction, because of the
great differences in material characteristics, such as stiffness. So, it
might correct to argue that a glass fiber sailplane has a "substantial"
G loading margin, but not correct for the carbon fiber sailplane.

And the bounds might be quite different for a 15 meter glider and a 25
meter glider, or a thick wing trainer and a thin wing racer.


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Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA