Definition
The ability of a material, joint, or surface to resist crushing, deformation, or failure under a concentrated load applied through a fastener, pin, or contact area. In aircraft structures, it most often refers to how well a sheet of metal or composite resists being deformed or torn around a bolt or rivet hole when the fastener pushes against the edge of the hole.
Plain English
How much pressure a part can take where something pushes hard against a small area — like a bolt pressing on the edge of its hole — before the material starts to crush, stretch, or tear.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft structural repair, sheet-metal work, and fastener selection, especially when checking whether a hole, rivet, bolt, or repair part can safely carry the load placed on it.
Derivation
‘Bearing’ here means ‘carrying or supporting a load’ (from Old English beran, to carry). It refers to the surface that bears the load, not the rotating bearings in an engine. Bearing strength is literally the strength of the load-bearing contact area.
Why Pilots Care
Determines safe aircraft weight limits and whether operations can proceed on a given surface without risking damage or becoming stuck.
Intuition Check
Bearing strength is not about a compass bearing or the general idea of being “strong.” Here, “bearing” means carrying a pressing load at the contact point between a fastener and the material around its hole.
Example Sentence 1
The technician checked the bearing strength of the aluminum skin to confirm it could handle the load transferred through the new rivet pattern.
Example Sentence 2
After the storm, the airport closed the taxiway until its bearing strength could be retested.