| CODE | AET3123 | ||||||||||||||||||
| TITLE | Aircraft Structures and Design | ||||||||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Institute of Aerospace Technologies | ||||||||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit focuses on the conceptual design and construction of the fixed wing large transport aeroplane. It introduces the main drivers of aircraft design such as global financial forecast, global travel demands, operational requirements, and airline requirements, and investigates how these are translated into conceptual aircraft design. The study-unit reviews a number of case studies of aircraft models, addressing the evolution of aircraft structures and design from a historical aspect, leading to current practice. Each case study demonstrates the importance of the driving requirements and how these evolved over time, making particular aircraft models a success while others a failure. The study-unit introduces empirical sizing equations, as well as finite element analysis and computational fluid mechanics as applied to aircraft detail design. The study-unit describes the merits of the traditional wing-and-tube configuration compared to new emerging alternatives. The study unit describes various propulsion technologies and their integration with the airframe as well as issues of aircraft stability and control. The study-unit introduces concepts of loading actions and flight envelope, aircraft structural stresses and characteristics, and structural components in the wing-and-tube layout. Various aerospace materials used such as aluminium alloys, steels, titanium and composites, are also described, with focus on material properties, construction techniques and airworthiness aspects. Structure design, including traditional and modern techniques as well as joining methods are described. Study-unit Aims: • To provide a historical overview of the evolution of aircraft structures and design of large transport aircraft; • To introduce conceptual aircraft design based on operational, market, safety and certification requirements; • To explain design considerations for aircraft sizing, configuration and layout to satisfy market, customer, operational, safety and certification criteria; • To compare the merits of classical and emerging configurations; • To explain the use of various materials in aircraft structures; • To describe traditional and modern construction techniques of aerostructures such as wings and fuselages; • To describe the various joining processes and techniques; • To explain the compromises in aircraft design to achieve the set performance and safety targets. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: • Describe the evolution of the aerostructure of large transport category aircraft; • Explain the merits of various design considerations such as sizing, configuration and layout; • Describe the impact certification, airworthiness, safety and operational requirements on aircraft design and structure; • Compare the merits of classical and emerging configurations; • Describe the role of various materials in aircraft structures; • Describe various construction techniques of aircraft structures; • Describe various joining processes and techniques used on aircraft structures; • Describe how designs are developed to meet performance and safety targets. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: • Apply the understanding of the limitations of engineering structures as applied to aircraft design; • Apply the knowledge and understanding of the effects of the basic aircraft design and layout to flying skills. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Textbooks - Cutler, J. Understanding Aircraft Structures, 4th ed, Blackwell Publishing, 2005. - Fielding, J. Introduction to Aircraft Design, Cambridge University Press, 2010. - Jenkinson, L.R., Simpkin, P., Rhodes, D., Civil Jet Aircraft Design, 1999, Arnold; Hodder Headline Group, London. Supplementary textbook - EASA CS-25 - Certification Specifications For Large Aeroplanes. European Aviation Safety Agency. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Online Learning | ||||||||||||||||||
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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