Frame (nautical)

The term frame ( either the frame or the frame ) is originally from the ship. It denotes a supporting member for reinforcement of the hull for boats, ships, rigid airships, airplanes, and other vehicles. The frames are also carriers of the planking. This design is ( as for example in the dugout ) saves considerable weight over a massive construction. The formers and is now used not only in the automotive sector, but also in architecture, especially in large buildings, as well as in the model, eg for landscape models. The Konstruktionsspanten used in the construction of a ship are part of the line of the crack, the graphical representation of the shape of a ship.

A distinction is made according to their alignment between

• Transverse frames that are transverse to the hull and keel and
• Stringers ( Stringer) that are parallel to the keel or the vehicle main axis.

The frames must be linked together so that one hull is formed. This is done to the outside through the outer skin, through the inside beams perpendicular to the ribs, the so-called stringers. Transverse frames can be connected with side, bilge and Raumstringern and the keel. In traditional boat building, the term Weger is rather used (eg Balkweger, Kimmweger ). Stringer or Weger are different from longitudinals that they are not directly connected to the outer skin, but inside are on the ( cross - ) frames. See also: Angle Brackets

Transverse frames

The transverse frames form vividly the " ribs " of the ship, from the keel ( the "backbone" ) of extending upwardly. They are located along the inside of the vessel wall, but are often disguised from the inside and thus also visible inside the ship not readily available. Due to the transverse frames, the shape and width of a ship's hull is defined. The transverse frames vary depending on the shape of the hull very much.

In steel or timber construction, the cross ribs are attached according to the destination of the vessel to a greater or lesser distance from each other. The bulkhead at the greatest breadth of the ship is called the midship.

For plastic yachts no transverse frames are used, but with them the hull is usually stiffened at regular intervals. These stiffeners run as cross ribs crosswise to the keel on the inside of the vessel wall. You see so much like transverse frames and perform the same function of stabilizing the hull; unlike transverse frames, they are not separate components, but the protrusions of the plastic vessel wall.

Transverse frames are also used in ship building - including the wooden and cardboard model ship - used. Transverse frames, which are made entirely of wood are referred to herein as " Vollspanten ".

Material and construction

The classic material for bulkheads in ship and boat building is wood. It was also used for aircraft long time. In the area of ​​trade, war and fishing ships now dominated steel. Most yachts are built today in plastic, in the Spantbauweisen steel, wood, and especially for large yachts and aluminum are used. In aircraft and high-speed catamarans aluminum is most often used.

Frames made of wood

Sawn frames are made from straight pieces. Since during sawing the wood fibers are severed, serrated ribs must be dimensioned larger than grown, and the distances between the frames need to be reduced in comparison with frames grown to achieve the same strength. This results in a higher weight. The disadvantage is the large amount of waste that accrues when customizing. This type of Spantenbaus is also predominantly used in the restoration. The attachment is like grown frames.

The Doppelspant is composed of several pieces. To connect each of the pieces to each other, a second frame with staggered joints is bolted to the first. Since this connection is quite weak, here is the frame spacing must be very small so that the result is a very heavy weight. It is this method is primarily used in fishing boats, which are often exposed to heavy seas. The heavy weight is here desirable because it dampens the movement of the ship. The fixing is again carried out with bolts, screws or rivets.

Built -bent ribs are with hot steam (usually in a steam box ) " soft-boiled " and then placed directly in the form at the installation. Usually this is done, as opposed to the other frame - construction, after completion of the outer skin. You can also turn in a framework of Mallspanten and support battens frames but before the hull is aufgeplankt. To enable the tight bending radii, bent- frames have a flat cross section. Common types of wood are like oak or ash still pliable.

Laminated frames are glued from several layers of thin wood on a shape. This construction was made possible by the development of suitable adhesives. Advantages as compared to the traditional construction are the low weight with high strength, which is not weakened by the longitudinal compounds, and a small waste.