| Point of application of weight in terms of length. | Absolute weight in grammes. | Weight in terms of greatest weight. | Deflection in terms of length. |
| 0.39 | 7680 | 1.0 | 0.11 |
| 0.445 | 5980 | 0.78 | 0.11 |
| 0.56 | 3680 | 0.48 | 0.11 |
| 0.75 | 2300 | 0.30 | 0.11 |
| 0.95 | 1100 | 0.143 | 0.11 |
| 1.00 | 930 | 0.121 | 0.11 |
A lighter rib than the above, which was constructed at the same time, was also tested with the results shown in the following table. This rib was also 80 cm. long, but was only one-half the linear dimensions in section of the rib previously tested. The rear portion of it projected 46 cm. from the clamp. The total weight of the rib was 11 grammes, or 5.5 grammes for the 46 cm. on which the measurements were made.
| Point of application of weight in terms of length. | Absolute weight in grammes. | Weight in terms of greatest weight. | Deflection in terms of length. |
| 0.39 | 1400 | 1.0 | 0.11 |
| 0.445 | 1100 | 0.785 | 0.11 |
| 0.56 | 700 | 0.50 | 0.11 |
| 0.75 | 400 | 0.275 | 0.11 |
| 0.95 | 250 | 0.178 | 0.11 |
| 1.00 | 220 | 0.157 | 0.11 |
A still lighter rib of the same length, weighing 9 grammes, suitable for use in the wings of the quarter-size model, was constructed and a set of tests was made on it with the following results. As in the above test, 46 cm. of the rear portion of it projected from the clamp which held it.
| Point of application of weight in terms of length. | Absolute weight in grammes. | Weight in terms of greatest weight. | Deflection in terms of length. |
| 0.39 | 1450 | 1.0 | 0.11 |
| 0.445 | 1150 | 0.795 | 0.11 |
| 0.56 | 740 | 0.51 | 0.11 |
| 0.75 | 380 | 0.262 | 0.11 |
| 0.95 | 210 | 0.145 | 0.11 |
| 1.00 | 180 | 0.124 | 0.11 |
Among quite a number of different forms of cross-ribs which were constructed of a size suitable for use in the model aerodrome, but made primarily for use in tests to determine the best form to employ, may be mentioned the following, in which both ribs were seven-sixteenths of an inch outside diameter and five-sixteenths of an inch inside diameter. One was filled with elder pith, formed up into a round rod that just fit the interior of the hollow rib, and was glued into it when the rib was glued up. The other rib was left hollow. Upon testing these by suspending weights at different points, the rib without [p203] the pith showed a slightly less deflection than the one with it, it happening probably that the wood in one case was a little stiffer than in the other, although they were carefully selected to be as nearly alike as possible. The rib with the pith in it weighed 34 grammes and the one without it weighed 30 grammes. It was inferred from this test that the placing of a light pithy material in the interior of the ribs would have no good effect, and would not only add weight, but also complicate the construction. The reason for making this test with pith in one of the ribs was that it was thought probable that the rib flattened out somewhat when it was deflected under a load, and that the pith stiffened with the glue with which it was fastened in, might lessen this.
As the cross-rib described above, which was tested on October 23, 1899, seemed in every way suited for use in the wings of the large aerodrome, a complete wing equipped with similar ribs but of slightly changed dimensions, as shown in Plate [66], Fig. 5, was immediately constructed. As previous tests had shown that the wing covering did not “flute” or “pocket” to any considerable extent even when the ribs were as much as thirty inches apart, only ten cross-ribs were used in this wing. The eight intermediate cross-ribs were of the form described above, but the ribs at either end of the wing were made of a larger cross-section and otherwise stiffened in order to resist the strain of the tightly stretched cloth covering.
On April 13, 1900, a final sanding test was made on this wing, guyed in a manner similar to that used in the aerodrome, in which the following results were obtained:
| SANDING TESTOF LARGE WING. | |||
Area, 260 sq. ft.; weight of wing, 29 pounds; weight of sand on wing, 231 pounds; total weight supported by wing, 260 pounds, or one pound per square foot. Deflection of cross-rib, numbering from inner edge to extreme outer edge of wing— | |||
| Number of rib. | Deflection. Inches. | ||
| 1 (Heavy end rib) | 5.5 | ||
| 2 | 9.5 | ||
| 3 | 11.75 | ||
| 4 | 12.25 | ||
| 5 | 12.5 | ||
| 6 | 12.75 | ||
| 7 | 12.9 | ||
| 8 | 13.0 | ||
| 9 | 12.0 | ||
| 10 (Heavy end rib) | 9.75 | ||
The weight of sand put on the wing in this test was 1.5 times as great as the pressure which at this time it was expected would be imposed upon it in flight, and was in fact 1.2 times as great as the normal pressure when supporting the aerodrome as finally constructed. Even under this weight the greatest deflection noted in terms of the total length of the rib was less than 0.10, showing that the elastic limit of the rib was far from being reached. [p204]