Plain English Meaning

A way of building an aircraft body where the outer metal skin and an inner skeleton of supports work together to carry the loads. Neither the skin alone nor the frame alone is strong enough on its own, so they share the job.

Full Definition

A method of aircraft structural construction in which the outer skin carries a major portion of the flight loads, supported by an internal framework of formers, frames, bulkheads, longerons, and stringers. The skin and the underlying framework share the structural load between them, rather than the skin or the frame carrying it alone.

Context Anchor

Seen in aircraft structure discussions, especially when learning how the fuselage is built and why skin damage can matter structurally.