ARGOMENTO:

Example: Lug Stress Analysis

INDEX
1. Scope .............................................................................................................................................................................. 2
2. References and symbols ................................................................................................................................................. 2
Pin section area ........................................................................................................................................................... 2
Ultimate allowable tension load.................................................................................................................................. 2
3. Assumptions ................................................................................................................................................................... 4
4. Load conditions .............................................................................................................................................................. 4
5. Spar fittings..................................................................................................................................................................... 5
5.1 Axial Load: load condition U.L. .............................................................................................................................. 5
5.2 Transversal Load: load condition U.L. ..................................................................................................................... 6
5.3 Oblique Load: load condition U.L. ........................................................................................................................... 6
8. Pin analysis ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7
8.1 Spar fitting pin .......................................................................................................................................................... 7
8.1.1 Ultimate shear.................................................................................................................................................... 7
8.1.2 Ultimate bending ............................................................................................................................................... 7

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1. Scope
The aim of the present report is to give an example of lug stress analysis and to calculate the
margins of safety to failure.
2. References and symbols
The calculation of the margin of safety has been carried out according to the procedures reported in:
[1] E.F. Bruhn, Analysis and Design of Flight Vehicle Structures
[2] MIL-HDBK-5, Metallic Materials and Elements for Aerospace Vehicle Structures
Symbol
A1
A2
A3
A4
Abr
Abrb
Apin
At
AXIAL
b
D
Dp
E
F
fb
Fbpin
Fcybush
Fsupin
Ftu
Ftupin
Fy
Fz
g
Ipin
Kbru
Kbry
Kt
Ktru
Mpin
Pbru
Pbushbry
Ptru
Ptu
REV.

Description
See fig. 2
See fig. 2
See fig. 2
See fig. 2
Bearing area Dt
Bearing area Dpt
Pin section area
Net tension area (W-D)t
Axial component of load on lug, see fig. 2
Arm of bending moment on pin (see fig.4)
Bushing outer diameter
Pin diameter
See fig. 2
Resultant of load on lug
Bending moment maximum stress on pin
Ultimate bending strength (pin)
Compressive yield strength (bush) steel
Ultimate shear strength (pin)
Ultimate tensile strength (lug) 7050 T7451
Ultimate tensile strength (pin)
Y component of load on lug, see fig. 1
Z component of load on lug, see fig. 1
Gap between frame and spar lugs
Pin inertia moment
Shear bearing efficiency factor
Shear bearing factor
Stress concentration factor
Efficiency failure coefficient
Bending moment on pin
Ultimate shear bearing failure load
Allowable shear bearing load on bushing
Ultimate transverse load
Ultimate allowable tension load
-

Reference
[1]
[1]
[1]
[1]
[1]
[1]
[1]
[1]
[1]
[1]

[2]
[2]
Finite element analysis
Finite element analysis
[1] fig. D1.13
[1] fig. D1.14
[1] fig. D1.12
[1] fig. D1.15

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t
t1
t2
TRANSVERSE
W

REV.

Lug thickness
[1]
Lug thickness (fin spar)
Lug thickness (fuselage frame)
Transverse component of load on lug, see fig. 2
Lug width
[1]

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3. Assumptions
Due to the geometrical characteristics of the actual fittings, the procedure has been applied to an
equivalent geometry. As showed in figure 1, the equivalent geometry of the lug used for calculation
purposes is composed by a couple of lugs of the type reported in figure 2, whose axial direction
forms an angle of 45 with the z aircraft axis.

fig. 1

fig.2

4. Load conditions
The margin of safety has been calculated on the basis of the following load conditions:
I.

Ultimate Load (UL).

The Fy and Fz components of the load acting on the lug has been calculated through a finite
element analysis of the structure under investigation. This components have been read in the grid
point force balance section of the output file of the analysis, in the nodes that represent the
attachment of the fin to the fuselage frames.
The axial and transverse components of load have been obtained by projecting Fy and Fz on the
axial and transverse direction. As each lug works in double shear (figure 3), only one half of the Fy
and Fz components has been considered in calculating axial and transverse load. Furthermore a
fitting factor of 1.15 has been considered.
AXIALufitting = 1.15 AXIALu

TRANSVERSEufitting = 1.15 TRANSVERSEu

fig. 3
REV.

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5. Spar fittings
Load condition

Fy
[N]

Fz
[N]

AXIALufitting
[N]

TRANSVERSEufitting
[N]

U.L.

12787

267165

98983

89931

D = 33 mm
A1 = 362.4 mm2

Dp = 29 mm
A2 = 304.8 mm2

e = 41.9 mm
A3 = 304.8 mm2

T = 12 mm
A4 = 362.4 mm2

W = 83.8 mm

W/D = 2.539

e/D = 1.27

D/t = 2.75

t/D = 0.364

Aav/Abr = 0.861

kt = 0.93
[2], fig. D1.12
curve 1

kbru = 1.1
[2], fig. D1.13
curve A

kbry = 1.2
[2], fig. D1.14

Ktru = 0.67
[2], fig. D1.15
curve 8

5.1 Axial Load: load condition U.L.

Tension failure (lug)
P tu

k t. F tu. A t

MS tu

P tu
1.15. AXIAL u

MStu = 1.47
Shear - bearing failure (lug)
P bru
MS bru

k bru. F tu. A br
P bru
1.15. AXIAL u

MSbru = 0.90

REV.

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Yield failure-bushing
1.85. F cybush. A brb

P bushbry

P bushbry

MS bushbry

1.15. AXIAL u

MSbushbry = 3.36
5.2 Transversal Load: load condition U.L.
P tru
MS tru

k tru. A br. F tu
P tru

1.15. TRANSVERSEu

MStru = 0.27
5.3 Oblique Load: load condition U.L.
Ru: smaller of Pbru or Ptu

R au

MS u

AXIAL u

R tru

Ru
1
1.6

R au

1.6 0.625

TRANSVERSEu
P tru

R tru

MSu = 0.12

REV.

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8. Pin analysis
The analysis on the pin is carried out in order to evaluate the margins of safety for shear and
bending load. A gap between frame lug and spar lug will be assumed in the evaluation of the
bending moment arm (fig.4). The procedure for determining the margins of safety is reported in [1],
par. D1.14.
The pin is assumed to be an AN steel with Ftu=862 N/mm2, Fsu=517 N/mm2 and Fb=1241 N/mm2.

fig. 4
8.1 Spar fitting pin
8.1.1 Ultimate shear
The ultimate shear load for the pin (in double shear) and the relative safety margins are:

P pds

2. F supin. A pin
P pds

MS pds

1.15. F
MSpds = 4.44

8.1.2 Ultimate bending

g t1

M pin

1.
2

t2

1.15. F. b

REV.

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fb

DATE

d pin
M pin.
2

MS pb

I pin
F bpin
fb

MSpb = 2.09

REV.

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