ECTS - University of Pisa
The student who successfully completes the course will have the ability to compute the distribution of stress for typical aerospace structures (wing-boxes, fuselages) adopting the elementary theory approach and the forces method; will be able to demonstrate a solid knowledge of the buckling behavior of compressed structures; will be aware of the energetic approaches to the study of structural problems; will be aware of the approach to structural problems based on the use of the finite element method.
The evaluation is based only on the verification executed during the examination (oral). There is not a weighting procedure to establish the final score.
Course Contents
( PART I ) - Basic Structural Analysis - Statics (October-December)
Introduction to structural mechanics
Beams in bending, shear and torsion
Principles of aerospace structures construction
Bending, shear and torsion of thin-walled tubes
Stresses in multi-cell tubes
Discrete models of aerospace structures (wing-box, fuselage): elementary theory
Correction of the elementary theory results
Second order approach: shear diffusion and axial constraint effects in the aerospace structures
Matrix method of structural analysis (Force Method and Displacements Method)
( PART II ) - Analysis of Aerospace Structures - Statics (February-April)
Introduction to the use of PATRAN-NASTRAN codes (computer lab)
Energy methods of structural analysis
Theory of thin plates
Theory of structural instability (buckling of beams, plates and stiffened panels)
Crippling of compressed structures (crippling of beams, plates and stiffened panels)
( PART III ) - Introduction to Structural Dynamics (May)
Introduction to the use of PATRAN-NASTRAN codes (computer lab)
Notes and exercises on the single-degree-of-freedom system
Analysis of multi-degrees-of-freedom systems
Notes to the dynamics of continuous systems (bending and torsional vibrations of beams)
Modal analysis of structural systems
Notes and exercises on the energy methods for the dynamic analysis of structures
For the students it's possible o subdived the examinatin phase into two distict part. Anyway this procedure is not mandatory
Exams for the PART I (January-February)
Exams for the PART II and III and/or Full exams (June-July)
Theoretical lessons and, in the second period, use of personal computer for the preparation of Finite Element models by Nastran-Patran codes.
Spacecraft Structures and Mechanisms – T.P. Sarafin, 1995
Aircraft Structures for Engineering Students – T.H.G. Megson, 1972
Theory and Analysis of Flight Structures – R.M. Rivello, 1969
Theory of Elasticity – S.P. Timoshenko, J.N. Goodier, 1970
Mechanics of Materials – S.P. Timoshenko, J.M. Gere, 1972
Introduction to Structural Dynamics and Aeroelasticity – D.H. Hodges, 2002
Lectures of Aerospace Structure (notes) – M. Chiarelli (e-learning)
