Ribs, Gussets and Lateral Supports . . . so as to get back on topic.
It has been slow going, but I am getting my arms around the details of the internal structure of the extension pod. As I proceed, it is occurring to me that maybe I over-designed this a 'wee bit', but who knows.
Since Cape Cod has somehow moved to within the Arctic Circle, I have been tenting the extension pod and running heat inside it to get the VE to cure. I can keep the inside area about 82˚F while the garage air is about 58˚F
.
.
I decided the sidewalls needed ribs to stiffen it them up . . .
.
.
The main center girder has an section that may need to be more stiff to prevent/deter buckling under compressive loads. So, I added some stiffeners.
.
.
On the secondary stringers, which are in line with where the engines will mount, I wanted to have a similar resistance to buckling. That will be accomplished by a lateral rib, cutting the unsupported distance in half, which give 4X the buckling strength.
.
I also put in the lateral supports . . .
And then there are the gussets . . .
.
There are a few more gussets to be installed along the 'top' section. Everything is tacked into place now and I spent part of the day doing fillets in preparation for glassing everything solid.
My little space heater has done the trick so far. Mid-week, we are supposed to hit 50˚F during the day, which should help the progress.
