Syllabus

AEM 4501

Aerospace Structures

3 Credits

 

Catalog Description:

 

Advanced strength of materials analysis of elastic structures with aerospace applications. Failure modes and criteria, buckling, matrix methods for analysis, plane truss design. Energy and Castigliano methods for statically determinate and indeterminate structures. Torsion and bending of asymmetrical thin-walled sections. Design project.

 

Prerequisites by Topic:

 

1. Deformable Body Mechanics (AEM 3031)

 

Text:

 

Gere and Goodno, Mechanics of Materials, 9th edition, Cengage

 

Format of Course:

 

3 hours of lecture per week

 

Computer Usage:

 

Several Matlab programs for calculations involving bars, trusses, and torsion members are available on the class website.

 

Course Objectives:

 

Develop an ability to analyze structures that arise in aerospace applications. Perform a structural design through a design project involving an aerospace truss.

 

Course Outcomes:

 

1. A knowledge of different failure criterion and an ability to predict failure given the stress state of a body.
2. An ability to calculate the critical load for buckling of a beam with different support conditions.
3. An ability to use matrix methods to formulate and solve truss problems.
4. An ability to apply energy methods to structural analysis and to use these methods for statically indeterminate systems.
5. A knowledge of the fundamental equations of linear elasticity.
6. An ability to compute bending stresses and deflections for beams with asymmetric cross sections.
7. An ability to compute shear stresses and twist angles in torsion for solid sections, closed thin-walled sections and open thin-walled sections.
8. An understanding of the shear center of a beam and an ability to predict its location.
9. An understanding of the fundamental frequencies and associated modes of a vibrating beam.

 

Relationship of course to program objectives:

 

This course develops knowledge of aerospace structures necessary for success in aerospace engineering.

 

Relationship of course to student outcomes:

 

This course is used to assess the following student outcome:

 

1. An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration for public health and safety, and global, cultural, social, environmental, economic, and other factors as appropriate to the discipline.

 

In addition, the course supports the following student outcomes:

 

2. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
3. An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgements, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental and societal contexts.
4. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed using appropriate learning strategies.

 

Outcome Measurement:

 

Performance Criteria:  Design a truss structure to meet a set of requirements, and document the performance of that structure.

 

Assessment Method: 50% of students must pass the individual design specifications and 80% must pass the group design report.

 

 

Course Outline:

 

Lecture (Hrs, approx.)	Topic
3	Review of statics, Deformable body mechanics
5	Beam buckling and Failure criteria
3	Elastic trusses
2	Matrix methods and design
5	Energy methods
2	Introduction to linear elasticity
4	Torsion of solid sections
6	Bending of beams with asymmetric cross sections
4	Torsion of thin-walled beams
4	Shear centers
3	Vibrations of beams

 

 

Student Survey Questions:

 

This course improved by ability to do the following:

 

1. Apply structural analysis to the engineering design of a truss that meets specific criteria.

 

In the course, I acquired the following:

 

2. A knowledge of different failure criteria and an ability to apply them.
3. An ability to use matrix methods for truss problems.
4. An ability to use energy methods to calculate deflections for determinate and indeterminate structures.
5. An understanding of the torsional rigidity of non-circular shafts.
6. An ability to compute stresses, deflections and shear centers in asymmetric beams in bending.

 

Please answer the following questions regarding the course:

 

7. The level of work required in the course was appropriate for the credit given.
8.  My mathematical background for the course was adequate.
9.  The amount of time spent on theory and on problem solving was appropriate.
10.  My background in deformable body mechanics was adequate.
11.  The course strengthened my overall understanding of deformable body mechanics.
12.  The design project was appropriate for the course.
13.  The computer program(s) in the course were adequate.

 

 

Last modified:

 

2018-11-18