Module Code: ACD504

Module Title: Aircraft Structures

Module Leaders:
Dr. Vinod K. Banthia
vinod_banthia.aae.et@msruas.ac.in

Mr. Suman M.L.J.

suman.aae.et@msruas.ac.in

Mr. Shivakumar H.G.

shivakumar.aae.et@msruas.ac.in

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M. S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences

Module Details
Course: M. Tech. in Aircraft Design
Department: Automotive & Aeronautical Engineering
Head of the Department: Dr. Srikari S.
(srikari.aae.et@msruas.ac.in)
Faculty: Engineering & Technology
Dean: Dr. H. K. Narahari (dean.et@msruas.ac.in)

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Why this Module

The objectives of the course are to:
1. Explain the construction, working principles and functional requirements of aircraft
systems with respect to their performance
2. Convert the customer requirements to viable design specifications and evolve
conceptual design
3. Model, simulate, analyse and validate aircraft conceptual design to meet
operational requirements using commercially available tools
4. Demonstrate Critical, analytical, problem solving and research skills in the domain
of Aeronautical Engineering
5. Develop a career in Aeronautical Engineering
6. Practice Teamwork, lifelong learning and continuous improvement
The Module is being delivered to meet the highlighted objective of the course to
meet the course aim.
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Module Aim and Summary

The aim of this module is to give student basic understanding of the loads acting
on a fixed wing aircraft, structural configuration for supporting these loads, and
approach and methodology for designing structural assemblies and components.
Methodology utilising solution to structural problems using strength of material,
theory of elasticity and energy methods to design and analyse structural
components will be described to them. They will also be taught concepts of
dynamics and elastic stability as applicable to aircraft structures, aero-elastic
phenomena like aileron reversal, wing divergence and flutter. Design and
analysis of stability and dynamic characteristics of laminated composite plates
and shells will also be covered.

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Module Intended Learning Outcomes

After undergoing this module students will be able to:
1. Describe typical structural configurations, and the reasons thereof,
for various structural systems and assemblies of an aircraft, list the
sources of forces and means for calculating those
2. Relate the loading, static and dynamic, and the structural
configurations to identify potential modes of failure and identify
the approach to be taken for design
3. Analyse loads and structural layouts, and their interaction, to
assess the adequacy of design under the prescribed functional and
operational loads

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Module Intended Learning Outcomes

After undergoing this module students will be able to:
4. Coalesce knowledge of aerodynamic and structural design,
analytical ad numerical analysis methods to design, model,
simulate and analyse components/systems of an aircraft
structure
5. Identify the structural behaviour of parts in aircraft structure and
analyse it using simple analytical approaches
6. Use analytical and simulation means to develop design for
specified functional and operational requirements, assess various
options to come up with the most suitable solution

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Module Contents

Aircraft configuration and load paths: Structural layout, major assemblies and subassemblies,
structural concepts, design considerations

External and internal loads: Sources of loads, load factors, operational loads, ground loads

Design philosophy and methodology for structures and joints: Design requirements, regulation
based requirements, industry requirements, design for manufacturing, joint, lugs and fittings,
shear resistant beams, diagonal tension beams, validation and testing

Fatigue, Fracture and Damage tolerant design: Fatigue mechanism, properties and design
considerations, load history and damage accumulation, fatigue and failure of joints, corrosion
fatigue, Fracture mechanics and fracture mechanics approach to design, fatigue failure of joints

Deformation- kinematic modelling, including elastic instability, of beams, plates, and shells

Application of composite materials in aerospace structures

Analytical modelling of laminated composite plates and shells, Numerical solutions for buckling
and modal characteristics of composite plates and shells

Aero-elasticity phenomena in aircraft- Wing divergence and Flutter

Minimum- weight design criteria of aircraft structures

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Method of Assessment (1)

Module assessment will have two components:
Component - 1: 50% weight
Assignment (30% weight) followed by a presentation on the assignment
(10% weight) and a laboratory examination (10% weight).
A word processed assignment is to be submitted followed by a
presentation by the student.
In case there is no laboratory examination, the assignment (40% weight)
followed by a presentation on the assignment (10% weight) - applicable
only for those modules where it is not possible to have laboratory
examination.
Component - 2 : 50% weight
Written Examination (50% weight).
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Method of Assessment (2)

The assessment questions are set to test the learning outcomes. In each
component certain learning outcomes are assessed. The following table
illustrates the focus of learning outcome in each component assessed:
Intended Learning Outcome
Component-1 (Assignment)
Component-2 (Examination)

Both components will be moderated by a second examiner.

A student is required to score a minimum of 40% in each of the components
and an overall 40% for successful completion of a module and earning the
credits.

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References
a. Essential Reading
1.
2.
3.

Class Notes
T.H.G. Megson (2007) Aircraft structures for Engineering Students, 3rd Edition,
Elsevier Aerospace Engineering
E.F. Bruhn, (1973), Analysis and Design of Flight Vehicle Structures, Jacobs
Publication.

b. Recommended Reading
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Bruce K. Donanldson (1993) Analysis of Aircraft Structures An Introduction,

McGraw-Hill International Edition
M. C. Niu (2005) Airframe Stress Analysis and Sizing, Technical Book Company
Dennis Howe (2004) Aircraft Loading and Structural Layout, Professional
Engineering Publishing, Lomdon
M.C. Niu (1988) Airframe Structural Design, Conmilit Press, Hong Kong
R. Stiles, J. Bertin, S. Brandt and R. Whitford (2004) Introduction to Aeronautics: A
Design Perspective, 2nd edition, AIAA Education Series
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Module Delivery Schedule (Theory)

Number of Module Credits: 5
Session
No.

Date

Time

Day

27-Apr2015

9.30 am
1:00 pm

Mon

Basic Analytical Techniques

VKB

28-Apr2015

9.30 am
1:00 pm

Tue

Aircraft Loads

VKB

29-Apr2015

9.30 am
1:00 pm

Wed

Design for Fatigue

SMLJ

30-Apr2015

9.30 am
1:00 pm

Thur

VKB

04-May2015

9.30 am
1:00 pm

Mon

05-May2015

9.30 am
1:00 pm

Tue

Aircraft Structure Layout and

Configuration
Design Philosophy and Regulation
Requirements
Fracture Mechanics

SMLJ

06-May2015

9.30 am
1:00 pm

Wed

Design of Joints

SHG

07-May2015

9.30 am
1:00 pm

Thur

Deformation Kinematics and Instability

VKB

08-May2015

9.30 am
1:00 pm

Fri

Composites

VKB

11-May2015

9.30 am
1:00 pm

Mon

Aeroelasticity

VKB

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Topic

Delivered
By

Additional
Activity

SHG

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Module Delivery Schedule (Laboratory)

Session
No.

Date

Time

Day

27-Apr2015

2:00 pm
5:30 pm

Mon

Problem Solving using basic analytical

techniques Hand calculations

VKB

2:00 pm
5:30 pm

Tue

28-Apr2015

Problem Solving using basic analytical

techniques Hand calculations

VKB

29-Apr2015

2:00 pm
5:30 pm

Wed

Fatigue Analysis Component Stress Analysis

SMLJ

30-Apr2015

2:00 pm
5:30 pm

Thur

Fatigue Analysis Fatigue Life Calculation

SMLJ

2:00 pm
5:30 pm

Mon

04-May2015

05-May2015

2:00 pm
5:30 pm

Tue

Modelling of Instabilities

06-May2015

2:00 pm
5:30 pm

Wed

Fracture Modelling of Cracks in Structures

07-May2015

2:00 pm
5:30 pm

Thur

Modelling of Composites

08-May2015

2:00 pm
5:30 pm

Fri

11-May2015

2:00 pm
5:30 pm

Mon

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Delivered
By

Topic

Additional
Activity

Modelling of Instabilities
SHG

Analysis of Composites
Practice Session

SHG
SMLJ
VKB
VKB
VKB, SMLJ, SHG

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Theory Sessions

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Session No. 1
Basic Analytical Techniques
At the end of this session students will be able to
Explain basic principles and concepts of Mechanics of
Materials
Classify, and analyse accordingly, structural components
based on their structural behaviour
Analyse structural components to assess their adequacy for
specific application without failure
Apply Theory of Elasticity approach for analysing structural
behaviour
Use energy Methods to solve structural problems
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M. S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences

Session No. 2
Aircraft Loads
At the end of this session students will be able to
Relate functional and operation requirements to respective
loads on aircraft structures
Explain cause and source of inertial loadings and relate
these to typical aricraft maneouvers
Explain the construction of V-n diagram and its significance
in structural design of aircraft
Explain the structural design philosophy and approach for
aircraft and importance of key load factors

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Session No. 3
Design for Fatigue
At the end of this session students will be able to
Identify the modes of failures
Describe the fatigue design criterion
Discuss the phenomenon of fatigue and testing
methodology

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Session No. 4
Structural Layout and Configurations
At the end of this session students will be able to
Explain major structural systems in an aircraft structure
based on their purpose and functioality
Based on the functional andoperational requirement,
describe the sources and types of loads acting on various
structural systems
Develop structural configuration and layout for structural
systems based on the expected loading
Describe methodology and considerations for sizing the
components
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Session No. 5
Design Philosophy and Regulation Requirements
At the end of this session students will be able to
Describe design philosophy and methodology for structures
and joints
Explain design requirements as per regulation based
requirements
Explain design requirements as per industry based
requirements
Explain design philosophy for manufacturing

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M. S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences

Session No. 6
Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics
At the end of this session students will be able to
Discuss the importance of fracture mechanics in design
Compute Stress Intensity Factor for different modes of
fracture
Estimate energy release rate for brittle fracture
Compute the fatigue life and rate of crack propagation

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M. S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences

Session No. 7
Design of Joints
At the end of this session students will be able to
Analyse structural elements such as joints , lugs and fittings
and their load interaction
Analyse shear resistant beam structures and their load
interaction for adequacy of design
Analyse diagonal tension beam structure and their load
interaction for adequacy of design

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M. S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences

Session No. 8
Instability of Plates and Shells
At the end of this session students will be able to
Explain the idealisation of thin plates and shells resulting
kinematic behaviour
Identify geometric configuration and and loading
conditions for instability of such thin structural elements
Roughly estimate load carrying capability of such thin
structural elements

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Session No. 9
Composites
At the end of the session students will be able to
Explain the basic construction and mechanical behaviour of
composite materials
Demonstrate practical understanding of orthotropic
material properties
Describe and extimate macromechanical properties of a
lamina
Estimate tensile and compressive strength of lamina and
check for failure mode
Demonstrate understanding of classical laminate theory
and calculate properties of a laminate
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Session No. 10
Aeroelasticity
At the end of this session students will be able to
Explain Aeroelastic phenomena and physical processes
driving it
Explain the interaction of elasticity, aerodynamics and
structural dynamics in aeroelastic problems
Understand the phenomenology of aero/structural
interaction
Use simple mathematical models to estimate limiting
conditions from aeroelastic considerations

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Laboratory Sessions

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Session No. 1 & 2

Basic Analysitical Techniques
At the end of this session students will be able to
Analyse component level designs for adequacy under
simplified loading using
Basic mechanics approach
Theory of elasticity approach
Energy method approach

Develop idealised models of some typical complex

structures for first level of analysis
In this session, simple component level problems, like bending
and torsion of thin walled beams, analysis of idealised
strucure will be solved using basic mechanics approach.
some typical problems like bending of beams will be solved
using energy methods
M. S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences

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Session No. 3
Fatigue Life Estimation
At the end of this session, a student will be able to
Perform fatigue life analysis on stiffened panels and shafts using ANSYS
software
Perform fatigue analysis simple components with hand calculations and
validate using ANSYS software

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Session No. 4
Fatigue Life Estimation
At the end of this session, a student will be able to
Perform crack growth analysis for different shapes of cracks using ANSYS
software
Perform crack analysis to obtain Stress Intensity Factor using ANSYS software
and validate the same using hand calculations

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Session No. 5
Modelling of Instabilities
At the end of this session students will be able to
Perform the loads acting on the lugs and fittings with hand
calculation and validate using the ANSYS software
Perform and calculate the loads acting on the simplified
wing section with hand calculation and validate using the
ANSYS software

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M. S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences

Session No. 6
Modelling of Instabilities
At the end of this session students will be able to
Perform and calculate the loads acting on the fuselage with
hand calculation and validate using the ANSYS software
Analyse the structure such as diagonal tension beams and
their load interaction using ANSYS software
Analyse the buckling of beams and their load interaction
using Ansys software

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Session No. 7
Selection of Materials and Manufacturing using CES
At the end of this session, a student will be able to
Describe different categories of aircraft and turbomachinery components
Evaluate properties of materials for different components
Explain classification of materials and their properties
Analyse factors influencing selection of materials

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Session No. 8
Modelling of Composites
At the end of this session students will be able to
Define a lamina and its properties to be used in a finite
element model
Construct a component level model using prescribed layup
for a laminate
Develop a mathematical model for determining laminate
properties for given layup sequence
Step by step modelling of composite material in ANSYS will be
explained to the students. Material definition for lamina
and creating a laminate will be described.
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Session No. 9
Analysis of Composites
At the end of this session students will be able to
Perform Finite Element Analysis for composite components
of simple geometries
Post process the results to understand and analyse the
results at component and lamina level
Use mathematical model to design laminates for desired
properties
Components of simple geometric shapes and composite
material will be modelled and their respose with different
layups will be studied. Use of MATLAB for calculating
laminate property will be described.
M. S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences

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Session No. 10
Practice Session
This session will be used by the students to practice problem solving,
analysis and mathematical modelling skills they have acquired in the
laboratory sessions

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