| CODE | AET4904 |
| TITLE | Mechanical and Structural Factors in Aviation Safety |
| UM LEVEL | 04 - Years 4, 5 in Modular UG or PG Cert Course |
| MQF LEVEL | 6 |
| ECTS CREDITS | 6 |
| DEPARTMENT | Institute of Aerospace Technologies |
| DESCRIPTION | This course examines the influence that design, manufacturing, metallurgy, and maintenance have on aircraft accidents. A detailed analysis of the failure process will be conducted. Additional topics of discussion include: stress and design loading, fatigue, corrosion and the operational envelope involved. Study-unit Aims: This course will provide the necessary background, beyond aircraft accident investigation to better analyze aircraft materials in both mechanical and structural factors that produce aviation accidents. Learning Outcomes: Upon course completion, students will be able to: 1. Understand and apply the principles and concepts of mechanical and structural factors in aviation safety; 2. Analyze the mechanical and structural factors that produce accidents including design, construction, manufacturing, repair, and maintenance; 3. Analyze typical loads on an airplane, such as external design loads, limit loads, and ultimate limit loads; 4. Describe the internal bending, tension, compression, torsion, shear and combined stresses and strains on various aircraft components, given their external loads; 5. Identify and compare different types of structural failure modes in order to determine how a structure might have failed; 6. Examine current maintenance procedures and practices, focusing on the problem areas in both commercial and general aviation, and how they contribute to structural or mechanical failures; 7. Explain structural and mechanical design factors as they apply to airworthiness and crashworthiness; 8. Analyze an in-flight breakup in order to determine the sequence of failures, as well as primary and secondary failures; 9. Describe advanced structural materials used in the construction of aircraft, such as composites, and be able to determine and analyze failure modes; 10. Demonstrate appropriate selection and application of a research method and statistical analysis (where required), specific to the course subject matter. Further information is available to students on the ERAU platform. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Required Course Materials Aircraft Materials and Analysis. Edition: Year: 2015. ISBN: 9780071831130 Author: Tariq Siddiqui Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education. Note: For free online access available through the Hunt Library at https://www-accessengineeringlibrary-com.ezproxy.libproxy.db.erau.edu/content/book/9780071831130. Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge. Edition: FAA-H-8083-25B. Year: 2016. ISBN: 9781510726062, 1510726063. Author: Federal Aviation Administration. Publisher: U.S. Department of Transportation. Note: Download available free online at: https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/phak/. Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. Edition: 6th. Year: 2010. ISBN: 978-1-4338-0561-5. Author: American Psychological Association Publisher: American Psychological Association. Note: For further information, see the APA website. Suggested Course Materials Although not required, the following resources allow further exploration into the subject matter discussed in this course. Make avid use of the Tables of Contents and Indexes to more easily ‘zero-in’ on a particular topic. Note: Those items available for download may prove valuable for not only this course but any future course, including into your career. All suggested resources are available online and are free of charge. Aerodynamics for Naval Aviators. Edition: Revised. Year: 1965 Author: Hugh Harrison Hurt, Jr. Publisher: Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Aviation Training Division Note: Although dated, this is an excellent text on subjects related to aeronautics, aerodynamics, aircraft performance, operating loads, and high-speed flight. This book does an excellent job of explaining complex subject matter in terms that are clear, concise and simple. Download available free online at: https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/media/00-80T-80.pdf Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook – Airframe, Volume 1. Edition: FAA-H-8083-31A. Year: 2018 ISBN: 1619548267, 9781619548268. Author: Federal Aviation Administration. Publisher: U.S. Department of Transportation. Note: This is a very good handbook regarding aircraft maintenance, inspection, and repair subjects pertain to airframe systems. Download available free online at: https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aircraft/media/amt_airframe_hb_vol_1.pdf. Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook – General. Edition: FAA-H-8083-30A. Year: 2018. ISBN: 1619546922, 9781619546929. Author: Federal Aviation Administration Publisher: U.S. Department of Transportation. Note: This is a very good handbook regarding general aircraft maintenance, inspection, and repair subjects. Download available free online at: https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aircraft/media/amt_general_handbook.pdf. Techniques and Procedures for Structural and Material Aircraft Failure Investigation – Structure and Metallurgy. Edition: 2nd. Year: 1991. Author: C. R. Morin, R. P. O’Shea, E. W. Holmes, and R. E. Schaeffer. Publisher: Transportation Safety Institute, U.S. Department of Transportation. Note: Although dated, this is excellent text on subjects related to structural failure in aircraft accident investigation. Download available free online at http://libraryonline.erau.edu/online-full-text/books-online/RAC1178.pdf. |
| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-requisite Study-unit: AET2905 |
| 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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