Module Code - Title:

ME4031 - AEROSPACE STRUCTURES

Year Last Offered:

2025/6

Hours Per Week:

Lecture

2

Lab

2

Tutorial

1

Other

1

Private

4

Credits

6

Grading Type:

N

Prerequisite Modules:

ME4226

Rationale and Purpose of the Module:

This module builds on the Mechanics of Solids 2 (ME4226) module by providing students with further skills in the analysis of stress, strain and deformation of aerospace structures. The effect of complex combined loading scenarios on various types of aerospace structures are studied and compared using combination of analytical and experimental methods.

Syllabus:

Theory of elasticity; Airy stress function. Energy methods for structural analysis. Shear and torsion of open and closed thin walled sections, single and multicell sections. Bending and twisting of thin plates. stress analysis and failure criteria. Stress analysis of aerospace components; fuselages, wings. Design of spacecraft structures, Selection of materials, Composite spacespace structure manufacturing and validation, Trusses and truss spaceframes. Local buckling of thin-walled tubes. Application of proprietary structural analysis software packages and the application of Finite Element Analysis to aircraft structures. Experiments on tapered spars, c-and z-section beams.

Learning Outcomes:

Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis)

1. Identify the different analysis techniques available to carry out stress analysis of different aerospace structures. 2. Construct theoretical, numerical and experimental models of aerospace structures. 3. Apply stress analysis techniques to solve problems in the design and analysis of aerospace fuselages, wings and spaceframes. 4. Calculate the stresses acting in aerospace structures under different loading conditions. 5. Working in groups, carry out a stress analysis of typical aerospace structure elements and write a report describing the techniques used along with recommendations for structural improvement.

Affective (Attitudes and Values)

6. Acknowledge the aerospace structural designer's responsibility to society to design safe and efficient aerospace parts 7. Appreciate the commonalities and differences in the design philosophies of aircraft and spacecraft structural design

Psychomotor (Physical Skills)

8. Apply strain gauges to aerospace structures

How the Module will be Taught and what will be the Learning Experiences of the Students:

The module will be delivered by 2 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour and 2 lab hours per week. The student will learn how to carry out a stress analysis of aerospace structures using the latest experimental, numerical and theoretical stress analysis techniques. Research findings are incorporated into the lab aspects of the course. Also, case studies are used to disseminate the latest research findings (e.g. Damage in composite aircraft structures, bird-strike on aircraft, development of composite tubeframe space structures and satellite booms).

Research Findings Incorporated in to the Syllabus (If Relevant):

Prime Texts:

Megson, T.H.G. (2006) Aircraft Structures for Engineering Students, 4th Ed. , Elsevier, BUTTERWORTH-HEINEMANN

Wijker, J.J. (2008) Spacecraft Structures , Springer Science & Business Media

Other Relevant Texts:

Young, W.C. (1989) Roark's formulas for Stress and Strain, Sixth Edition , McGraw-Hill

Donaldson, B. (1992) Analysis of Aircraft Structures - An Introduction , McGraw-Hill

Abdelal, G.F., Abuelfoutouh, N., Gad, A.H. (2012) Finite Element Analysis for Satellite Structures: Applications to Their Design, Manufacture and Testing , Springer Science & Business Media.

Programme(s) in which this Module is Offered:

BEAEENUFA - AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING

Semester(s) Module is Offered:

Autumn

Module Leader:

Conor.Mccarthy@ul.ie