Patent ID: 8342452

Claim:
An aerodynamic surface of an aircraft, providing an elongate gap having a first longitudinal border and a second longitudinal border opposite the first longitudinal border, said elongate gap being closed by a covering structural element, wherein the covering structural element comprises a strip-shaped metal body comprising: a fixing portion provided along one edge of the strip-shaped body, said fixing portion of the covering structural element being fixed along one of the longitudinal borders of the elongate gap; a sliding portion provided along an edge of the strip-shaped body opposite the fixing portion, said sliding portion having a wedge-shaped profile urging in a sliding manner on a ramp surface of the second longitudinal border of the elongate gap; a connection portion connecting the sliding portion to the fixing portion, the connection portion having a thickness substantially constant along an entire transverse extension and smaller than a maximum thickness of the fixing portion and a maximum thickness of the sliding portion to allow in use, controlled elastic bending of the structural covering element; wherein the covering structural element has a profile tapered at a transition from the fixing portion to the connection portion and from the sliding portion to the connection portion, said covering structural element having a smooth surface on a side facing away from the elongate gap; and wherein said covering structural element is installed in a preloaded manner, the preloaded manner being such that the sliding portion fully engages the ramp surface, the connection portion of the covering structural element being subjected to flexural stress due to the relative positioning of the longitudinal borders of the elongate gap.