[27] The Atlas was very light since a major portion of its structural support was provided by its single-wall steel balloon fuel tanks, which hold their shape while under acceleration by internal pressure. The word monocoque comes from the Greek for single (mono) and French for shell (coque). Examples include the German TPz Fuchs and RG-33. Balloon tanks are not true monocoques but act in the same way as inflatable shells. A plane is an excellent example of this type of structure. google_color_url = "008000"; [13], The term monocoque is frequently misapplied to unibody cars. In 1990 the Jaguar XJR-15 became the first production car with a carbon-fiber monocoque. google_color_bg = "FFFFFF"; The external aluminium ‘skin’ of the plane, provides the necessary structural strength. Moreira, Lucas F. M. da Silva, & Paulo M.S.T. The word monocoque is a French term for "single shell" or (of boats) "single hull".[1]. google_ad_client = "pub-1698037631606045"; Short would eventually prove the merits of the construction method with a series of flying boats, whose metal hulls didn't absorb water as the wooden hulls did, greatly improving performance. In the UK, Oswald Short built a number of experimental aircraft with metal monocoque fuselages starting with the 1920 Short Silver Streak in an attempt to convince the air ministry of its superiority over wood. Structural design that supports loads through an object's external skin, "Motorcycle Technology – Future Perfect – Up To Speed", "The Unconventional: Adopting a "Shrimp Shell" Frame", Kawasaki Heavy Industries Motorcycle & Engine, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Monocoque&oldid=990100667, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 22 November 2020, at 20:37. By considering the structure as a whole and not just the sum of its parts, monocoque construction integrated the skin and frame into a single load-bearing shell with significant improvements to strength and weight. In motor racing, the safety of the driver depends on the car body, which must meet stringent regulations, and only a few cars have been built with monocoque structures. ‘The aircraft is a low wing monoplane with a fuselage of semi-monocoque design constructed mainly of aluminum with steel and titanium.’. For example, the carbon fibre reinforced bodywork, of a modern Formula One racing car, is an example of this type of structure. [17], Notable designers such as Eric Offenstadt and Dan Hanebrink created unique monocoque designs for racing in the early 1970s. A semi-monocoque construction attempts to duplicate the efficiency of the monocoque structure, but, for practical reasons, has to include other stiffening material inside in the shape of stringers, frame, formers and bulkheads. google_color_link = "CC0000"; French industrialist and engineer Georges Roy attempted in the 1920s to improve on the bicycle-inspired motorcycle frames of the day, which lacked rigidity. The early plywood used was prone to damage from moisture and delamination.[7]. In the United States, Northrop was a major pioneer, introducing techniques used by his own company and Douglas with the Northrop Alpha. [6], This style of construction was further developed in Germany by LFG Roland using the patented Wickelrumpf (wrapped body) form later licensed by them to Pfalz Flugzeugwerke who used it on several fighter aircraft. [22], An aluminium monocoque frame was used for the first time on a mass-produced motorcycle from 2000 on Kawasaki's ZX-12R,[23] their flagship production sportbike aimed at being the fastest production motorcycle. To make the shell, thin strips of wood were laminated into a three dimensional shape; a technique adopted from boat hull construction. The technique may also be called structural skin, stressed skin, unit body, unibody, unitary c… Relating to or denoting aircraft or vehicle structures combining a load-bearing shell with integral frames. The shell still carries much of the load. The main being that, the combination of the ‘skeleton’ and ‘skin’, provides improved structural integrity. The first recorded use of a monocoque shell, in the manufacture of a plane manufacture, was in 1912. Monocoque , also called structural skin, is a structural system in which loads are supported by an object's external skin, similar to an egg shell. Modern passenger jets are referred to as monocoques, although they rely on both the skin / shell and the formers, which form a skeleton. He applied for a patent in 1926, and at the 1929 Paris Automotive Show unveiled his new motorcycle, the Art-Deco styled 1930 Majestic.