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Those structural characteristic calculations for flying pressurized are to calculate whether or not the structure can withstand the massive forces from the pres
by tzs 1y ago
Those structural characteristic calculations for flying pressurized are to calculate whether or not the structure can withstand the massive forces from the pressure differential between the pressurized volumes (cabin and cargo hold) and the outside atmosphere.
If you were to fly it unpressurized there would be no such massive forces because there would be no pressure differential. The structural requirements would be the same as they are for when the plane flies unpressurized at low altitudes.
- ethbr1 1y agoWouldn't a pressurized cabin be more rigid than an unpressurized one? Since you're tensioning everything internally?
- tzs 1y agoProbably. Airliners are pressurized to around 0.8 atm when at cruising altitude. The atmospheric pressure around 0.26 atm, so there is a pressure difference of around 0.54 atm. That will cause a considerable outward force on the cabin which would result in a lot of tension. If you didn't pressurize the cabin than the cabin would be at around 0.26 atm, which is the same as the outside air, and so there would not be that large outward force, and so much less tension. But the plane should be fine with that, because that's also the situation in the plane at low altitude.