Dolphin spar load stresses

[HagarTheHorrible]

My normal understanding is that it is usually the front spar of the top wing that takes most of the load for a normally configured biplane.  

 

Is the same true for a biplane with negative stagger ?

[ZachariasX]

2 hours ago, HagarTheHorrible said:

My normal understanding is that it is usually the front spar of the top wing that takes most of the load for a normally configured biplane.  

 

Is the same true for a biplane with negative stagger ?

 

About spar loads, it depends how those spars are located (in an upper wing) in regards to the wings aerodynamic pressure point. Bristol and Camel see to have the spars places such that they carry equal load, as pressure point is somewhat  in between them.

 

In a positve g maneuver, the upper wing also carries the lower wing of a biplane that presses upwarts on the outer struts that in turn is held in place by the flying wires, the ones that go upwards direction of the wingtip.

 

The lower wing spars those do NOT receive compressive force such as the top wing spars, they are youst bent upwards in between the airframe and the outer strut. They are like two individial airfoils of half the wingspan between two torsionally somewhat flexible mounts. This means that the lower spar is, if equally dimensioned in structure, far less suceptible to cracking after receiving bullet damage. The plane conversely can still fly somewat if the lower wing is cracked. Upper wing failure is the end of the flight.

 

This means if our dear RNG in the game gave similar probabilities to the event "gone with the wings" for hits in the upper spars and in the lower spars, then this would be plain wrong in the sense that it had nothing to do with the real world.

 

It is of note that this applies only for bullet resistance in positive g maneuvers. If high speed toleranceis your issue, the wings carry about equal stresses. Then it is important to have them rigged solid in a way that the do not flex.

 

Stagger is less important here.