This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2016 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

MAE3407 - Aircraft structures II

6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL

Undergraduate - Unit

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Faculty

Engineering

Organisational Unit

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Coordinator(s)

T W Ng

Offered

Clayton

First semester 2016 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit aims to develop an understanding of the analytical methodologies used in strength and stiffness assessment of aircraft structures. The unit will develop an understanding of the translation of aerodynamic and ground loading on aircraft wings and fuselage to the overall airframe. An understanding of the concept of structural idealisation and constraint will be developed along with real-world limitations. The principles of stressed skin construction will be considered in detail. The unit aims to develop an understanding of the analysis and design of structural problems common in the aerospace industry. It will provide students with the tools necessary to analyse aircraft structures.

Outcomes

Understanding of the relevance of strength and stiffness aspects of aircraft structures and components, including stressed skin construction
Appreciation of a range of modelling tools and analytical methodologies currently used in the aerospace industry
Understanding of the interaction between, often conflicting, requirements in the design of airframes i.e. aerodynamics, avionics and propulsion
Knowledge and skills to translate real-world forces into abstract form for engineering modeling of airframes
Understand the concept of loads and load paths on the airframe and the structural requirements of airworthiness
Knowledge of alternative analytical tools to solve similar airframe problems
Apply and contrast a range of analytical tools currently used in the aerospace industry
Calculate elastic stresses and deflections in aircraft structures and associated components
Apply the concept of structural idealization and constraint
Analyse torsion of wing boxes and other non-circular cross-sections
Analyse stresses and deflections of flat plates
Analyse bending, shear and torsion of open and closed thin-walled sections
Appreciate the relationship between analytical methodologies and real-world aircraft design
Confidence in evaluating new engineering problems in the aerospace industry and formulating original solutions.

Assessment

Problem sets: 10%
Laboratory reports: 20%
Examination (3 hours): 70%
Students are required to achieve at least 45% in the total continuous assessment component and at least 45% in the final examination component and an overall mark of 50% to achieve a pass grade in the unit. Students failing to achieve this requirement will be given a maximum of 45% in the unit.

Workload requirements

Six hours of contact time per week (usually 3 hours lectures and 3 hours practice sessions or laboratories) and 6 hours of private study per week

Chief examiner(s)

Professor Chris Davies

Prerequisites

MAE2401