35316 - Aircraft Structures and Materials (2nd cycle)

Learning outcomes

Aim of the course is to supply to the students familiarity with the classic methods for the determination of the state of tension and deformation in aerospace structures. The students will be able to cope in a critical way with the calculation of typical aeronautical structural members. In particular, the course is focused on the analysis of the static behavior and the instability of thin wall beams and plates.  A numerical finite element method will be analised.

Course contents

1) Stress and deformation evaluation in aerospace structures:

• Theory of the elasticity 
• Theory of the beams: normal forces, bending, torsion, shear
• Analysis of the aeronautic structures by the beam theory 
• Shear-lag
• Hyperstatic and energetic methods
• Finite element method
• Theory of the plates and shell
   

2) Analysis of the elastic equilibrium stability and collapse

• The stability concept
• Beam primary instability and collapse
• Beam torsional instability
• Instability of the thin plates and collapse

Readings/Bibliography

E.F. Bruhn; “Analysis and design of flight vehicles structures”, ed. Jacobs 
 T.H.G. Megson; “Aircraft Structures for Engineering Students”, ed. Arnold 
 R. Rivello; “Theory and analysis of flight structures”, ed. McGraw-Hill 
 G. Cavallini; “Dispense del Corso di Strutture Aeronautiche”, (in italian) Un. Pisa

Assessment methods

oral examination

Office hours

See the website of Enrico Troiani