AE 463 AIRCRAFT STRUCTURAL DESIGN Fall 2007

COURSE OUTLINE

Instructor: Dr. Judah Ari-Gur, Room F-246, Tel.: (269) 276-3419, Fax: 276-3421,

E-mail: Judah.ari-gur@wmich.edu

Office Hours: Tue. 10:30-11:20, Thur. 10-10:50, or by appointment

Textbook: Megson, T.H.G., Aircraft Structures for Engineering Students, Fourth Edition, Elsevier, 2007.

Reference: Curtis, H.D., Fundamentals of Aircraft Structural Analysis, Irwin, 1997.

Allen, D.H. and Haisler, W.E., Introduction to Aerospace Structural Analysis, Wiley, 1985.

Donaldson, B.K., Analysis of Aircraft Structures – An Introduction, McGraw-Hill, 1993.

Catalog Description: AAE 463, 4 cr-hr (4-0)

Structural design of aircraft emphasizing structural integrity under imposed static and dynamic loads. Design considerations include weight, cost, and mission constraints.

Prerequisite: ME365.

OBJECTIVES

The course objectives are to:

1) introduce stiffness and strength concepts of light-weight load-carrying structures;

2) understand static and dynamic failure modes of structural components;

3) study and evaluate methods, assumptions and approximations of structural analysis; and

4) gain insight of mission requirement effects on the design for structural integrity of light-weight vehicles.

DESCRIPTION

The course deals with the design and analysis of aeronautical structures. First, the flow of boundary dynamic and static loads through a typical structure is discussed. Then stresses and deformations of individual members and components are studied, culminating with monocoque and semi-monocoque load-carrying structures. Assumed and actual internal load distributions are explained and possible failure modes are presented.

Various methods of analysis are studied thoroughly. However, the emphasis is not on techniques but on concepts and comprehension. Hence, careful attention is paid to the correct interpretation of results.

One of the methods applied in this course is the Finite Element Method (FEM). There will be a computer assignment, covering FEA (Finite Element Analysis) modelling, interpretation of results and structural optimization. An existing FEA package (ALGOR), which was introduced in ME365, will be employed for this assignment.

TOPICS

Historical background.

Loads: Aerodynamic, thrust and inertial.

3-D elasticity. Stress and strain tensors.

Deformations. Stiffness and strength.

Local and global modes of failure.

Advanced beams: Bending and extension ; Torsion and shear.

Thin plates.

Work and energy principles: Virtual work ; Potential energy ; Strain energy.

Approximate methods: Rayleigh-Ritz ; Galerkin ; FEM

GRADING ( !!! 2007 Due Dates !!! )

Homework problems - 25% (as assigned)

Midterm exam - 20% (Thur., 18 Oct.)

FEA project - 25% (Tue., 4 Dec.)

Final exam - 30% (12:30 –2:30, Wed., 12 Dec.)

Failure to receive a passing grade ($60%) in the homework components (problems & FEA) of the final grade will result in failing ("E") the course.

A=90%- ; BA=85%- ; B=80%- ; CB=75%- ; C=70%- ; DC=65%- ; D=60%-

Remember: You have to earn your grades. Consistent effort is essential, but grades are assigned for the level of accomplishment, not the degree of hard work.

ALL THE ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE SUBMITTED UNTIL DUE DATE.

LATE SUBMISSIONS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED