Aviation Standard Test Battery-E (ASTB E) Practice Test

Which structure runs the length of the fuselage in a monocoque plane?

1. Stringer

2. Truss

3. Wing

4. Rib

The correct answer is: Stringer

In a monocoque aircraft structure, the stringer is a crucial component that runs the length of the fuselage. The primary function of stringers is to provide longitudinal stiffness and support to the aircraft skin, which is designed to bear loads and is often stressed itself. This engineered design minimizes the weight of the aircraft while ensuring structural integrity. In monocoque structures, the outer skin directly supports loads, and stringers help maintain the shape of the fuselage, contributing to its overall strength. They are typically placed at intervals along the fuselage and are attached to the skin, effectively creating a reinforced structure that can endure aerodynamic forces and internal pressures. This design contrasts with other structural systems, like the truss, which involves a framework of interconnected beams, or ribs, which are often used in wings to provide shape and support but do not run the length of the fuselage. The wing, while essential to the aircraft's lift and flight capabilities, does not serve the same structural purpose along the length of the fuselage as the stringer.