Airframe Stress Analysis and Sizing

Most airframes deal with thin-sheets or shells that may have buckling and crippling characteristics. This course provides a comprehensive background in metallic airframe sizing that combines input from both material strength analyses and hands-on design experience. Practical airframe design depends extensively on experimental or test data that must be correlated with analytical procedure.

Discussion focuses on the selection of structural configurations and materials that combine to produce an economic design, while at the same time taking into account the effects of static, fatigue, fail-safe requirements, damage tolerance, and repairability. Substantial information and data for metallic airframe sizing is presented in tables, charts, and/or curves based on past experience and/or test results.

The sizing methods presented in this course also are intended for those who need rough estimation techniques to support preliminary structural design. Moreover, these methods can give quick and accurate solutions to design problems simply with the aid of a desktop engineering calculator.