Advanced Aerospace Structures

Catalog description

Design and analysis of aerospace structures. Plates and sandwich panels; composite materials; structural dynamics; aeroelasticity; damage tolerance. AERSP 470 Advanced Aerospace Structures (3) AERSP 470 covers important topics in aerospace structures beyond basic stress and deflection analysis of thin-walled beams. The objectives of the course are to help students: 1) appreciate the roles that structures and structural materials play in aerospace vehicles; 2) understand general design concepts for aerospace structures: vehicles, components, and materials; 3) develop the analysis tools and skills needed to analyze the static and dynamic performance of aerospace structures; and 4) gain experience identifying, formulating, and solving aerospace structural engineering problems. AERSP 470 builds on structural, dynamics, and aerodynamics topics covered in PHYS 211 , EMCH 11 & EMCH 13 (or EMCH 210 ), EMCH 215 & EMCH 216, AERSP 301 , AERSP 306 , and AERSP 304 . It prepares students for entry-level work or graduate study in the analysis and design of aerospace structures. It also provides students with the strong background needed to contribute effectively to multidisciplinary trade studies in vehicle design activities.AERSP 417 begins with a review of the general features of flight vehicle structures and aerospace structural design concepts. Then, the deflection and stress responses of flat plates and sandwich panels under lateral and in-plane loading are addressed. About a third of the course is devoted to the behavior of advanced composite panels, and another third to structural dynamics and aeroelasticity. The course finishes with treatments of joining and damage tolerance, both key topics with respect to the design of aerospace structures.