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monocoque Definition

mono·coque (män′ə käk′, -kōk′)

adjective

  1. designating or of a kind of construction, as of a rocket, in which the skin or outer shell bears all or most of the stresses
  2. designating or of a kind of construction, as of a racing car in which the body and chassis are one unit

Etymology: Fr < mono-, mono- + coque, a shell < L coccum, scarlet berry < Gr kokkos, a seed

monocoque Usage Examples

Adjective modifier

  • composite: The basis of the car is a central, composite monocoque of immense strength and torsional rigidity.
  • central: The basis of the car is a central, composite monocoque of immense strength and torsional rigidity.

Modifies a noun

  • chassis: Therefore, a monocoque chassis - Land Rover's first - would be required.
  • construction: An example is the Stakhanovite, a wooden prototype of monocoque construction used by Wallingford Schools to win many medals in the 1970's.
  • frame: Both models were a monocoque frame, pressed from steel, with two side panels and no horn casting.
  • structure: Rear fuselage is a monocoque structure of all metal construction with a stressed skin Tail Unit: Cantilever monoplane type with dorsal fin.
  • body: How Waxoyl preserves the car's cavities Cars with monocoque bodies have spot welded seams.
  • design: Maximum strength combined with minimum weight is gained by the monocoque design with stressed sides, wheel arches and roofing.

Noun used with modifier

  • aluminum: Most obvious is the use of a tubular front fork assembly rather than the aluminum monocoque of Preston.
  • carbon: Gone is the old tubular frame, replaced with a carbon fiber monocoque based around the seat.