Introduction to Aerospace Structures and Materials from edX

How do you design an aircraft or spacecraft? And in doing so, how do you keep the risk of failure minimal while bearing in mind that they will eventually fail?

In this course you will be taken on a journey through the structural and material design of aircraft. You will see and understand how aircraft and spacecraft are manufactured, and learn how safety is enshrined at every stage.

Experts from the Aerospace Structures and Materials Department of Delft University of Technology will help you explore and analyze the mechanical properties of materials; learning about manufacturing techniques, fatigue, loads and stresses, design considerations and more - all the scientific and engineering principles that structural and materials engineers face on a daily basis. By the end of the course, you will have learned to think like they do!

Join us for an exciting learning experience that includes experiments; some of which you can do by yourself at home, online lectures, quizzes, and design assignments.

What's inside

Learning objectives

How aerospace structures are designed and why particular choices are made
Which materials are used and the reasons for using them
How to explain loads and stresses aerospace structures have to withstand

How aircraft and spacecraft are manufactured
The safety philosophies that are used in aerospace structural design and how they affect design choices
How to create preliminary design solutions for structural design problems

How aerospace structures are designed and why particular choices are made
Which materials are used and the reasons for using them
How to explain loads and stresses aerospace structures have to withstand
How aircraft and spacecraft are manufactured
The safety philosophies that are used in aerospace structural design and how they affect design choices
How to create preliminary design solutions for structural design problems

Syllabus

Part 1: Material Properties & the Environment

This part presents the basic concepts of material properties and the phenomena of stress and strain in aircraft or spacecraft at different temperatures and in different environments.

Part 2: Materials and Manufacturing Methods

We introduce the properties and manufacturing methods of typical aerospace materials such as metals, ceramics and composites. We will let you play around and create your own materials and ask you to come up with your first design proposal.

Part 3: Aerospace Structures

This part covers the essential structural elements of aircraft and spacecraft. The assignment involves studying the skeleton of your favorite aircraft or spacecraft to identify why certain structural elements were used by their designers.

Part 4: Loads and Stresses

Covers the loads that act on the different aircraft parts, the paths these loads travel on through a structure, and how this affects design choices when designing wings and fuselages. We look at the consequences of pressurized fuselages and of bending of wing spars and how it impacts the design. At the end of this part, you will face your first dilemma as a designer: how to satisfy all the design requirements even if they appear contradictory.

Part 5: Selection of Materials and Structures

This part looks at the structural performance of aircraft and how to select the appropriate structural and materials solutions for a design problem based on stiffness and strength. The concepts of specific strength and specific modulus will be introduced. We will also take you through the basic steps on how to dimension a spacecraft.

Part 6: Design, Certification, Fatigue and Durability

If you are a fan of those aircraft investigation shows on the television, you will most likely enjoy this module. However, we will also show you that life isn't quite like television, should you still be in any doubt. You will learn how, during the design process, many possibilities for failure are already eliminated, and the underlying philosophies for why. We will also discuss fatigue and damage tolerance, as they are critical if we want to monitor and improve the durability of aircraft and spacecraft.

Part 7: Joining & Manufacturing

In this part we look at how aircraft and spacecraft are assembled, what joining methods are used and why. As your final assignment, you will choose a joining method for your aircraft based on a dilemma we will present you with!

Part 8: Wrap Up

As always, no job is done until the paperwork is done. We ask you to look back at your initial expectations and see how far you have come. We also kindly ask you to give us some feedback on what you liked in the course and which bits could be improved.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops a thorough understanding of the design and manufacture of aircraft and spacecraft structures, including material selection, stress analysis, and safety considerations

Taught by experts from the Aerospace Structures and Materials Department of Delft University of Technology, who are recognized for their work in this field

Explores scientific and engineering principles that structural and materials engineers face on a daily basis

Includes experiments, online lectures, quizzes, and design assignments to provide a comprehensive learning experience

Provides a solid foundation for individuals interested in aerospace engineering and structural design

May require students to have some background knowledge in engineering and materials science

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Introduction to Aerospace Structures and Materials with these activities:

Review the principles of fluid dynamics

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A solid understanding of fluid dynamics is essential for comprehending the aerodynamic forces acting on aircraft and spacecraft.

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Review your notes and textbooks from previous courses on fluid dynamics.
Solve practice problems to test your understanding of the concepts.

Review the basics of statics and strength of materials

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Revisiting the fundamentals of statics and strength of materials will provide a stronger foundation for understanding the design of aircraft and spacecraft structures.

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Review your notes and textbooks from previous courses on statics and strength of materials.
Solve practice problems to test your understanding of the concepts.

Practice solving material science problems

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Review and practice solving problems related to material science concepts covered in this course to strengthen your foundational understanding.

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Review your notes and textbooks for relevant material science concepts.
Identify practice problems related to these concepts.
Solve the problems and check your answers against solutions or consult online resources for guidance.

Seven other activities

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Compile and review course materials

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Organizing and reviewing course materials can enhance retention and understanding.

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Organize your notes, assignments, and other course materials.
Review and summarize the key concepts.
Identify areas where you need further clarification.

Solve practice problems on structural analysis

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Regular practice through solving problems solidifies your understanding of structural analysis concepts.

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Find practice problems from textbooks, online resources, or previous exams.
Solve the problems independently.
Check your solutions against provided answers or consult with instructors/peers.

Analyze the stress-strain behavior of different materials

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Understanding the stress-strain behavior of different materials is essential for designing structures that can withstand various loads.

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Collect data from tensile tests or simulations.
Plot stress-strain curves and identify the key parameters.
Compare the stress-strain behavior of different materials.

Participate in discussion forums and online study groups

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Engaging with peers can provide different perspectives, clarify concepts, and foster a deeper understanding of the course material.

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Join online discussion forums or study groups.
Participate in discussions and ask questions.
Share your knowledge and insights with others.

Design an Airplane

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Engage with the design process from beginning to end

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Research different aircraft designs
Choose a design and develop a plan
Build a prototype
Test the prototype and make improvements
Present your design to a panel of experts

Follow tutorials on finite element analysis (FEA)

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FEA is a powerful tool for analyzing the behavior of complex structures and can greatly enhance your understanding of structural design.

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Find online tutorials or courses on FEA.
Follow the tutorials and complete the exercises.
Apply the learned concepts to analyze a simple structure.

Design and analyze a simple aircraft wing

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Applying the principles learned in the course to design and analyze a real-world structure will deepen your understanding and provide practical experience.

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Define the design requirements and constraints.
Select appropriate materials and structural elements.
Perform structural analysis to verify the design.
Document your design and analysis.

Career center

Learners who complete Introduction to Aerospace Structures and Materials will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Aerospace Engineer

Aerospace Engineers utilize their knowledge of how aircraft and spacecraft are manufactured, as well as their understanding of loads, stresses, fatigue and durability to conceptualize and build aircraft, spacecraft, and even space shuttles.

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Materials Engineer

For those interested in gaining a greater understanding of the use, properties, and manufacturing methods of materials that are typically used in the aerospace industry, this course may be useful.

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Mechanical Engineer

Mechanical Engineers use the knowledge they gain about how aircraft and spacecraft are manufactured, how loads and stresses can affect the durability of parts, and how to select the right materials and structures for a given design problem to build machines.

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Civil Engineer

Civil Engineers may find the section on selecting the right materials and structures to be especially useful for their work with designing and building bridges, tunnels, and other structures.

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Structural Engineer

Those looking to gain a better understanding of the safety philosophies that are used in the design process in the aerospace industry may find this course useful.

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Chemical Engineer

Chemical Engineers that study this course may be able to use the knowledge they gain about manufacturing methods and different materials to improve chemical processing.

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Industrial Engineer

Industrial Engineers may be able to apply the knowledge they gain about the manufacturing process of aircraft and spacecraft and the joining methods used to their work with efficiency and optimization.

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Research Scientist

Research Scientists seeking a deeper knowledge of the mechanical properties of materials, manufacturing techniques, fatigue, loads, and stresses may find this course useful for their research work.

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Technical Writer

Technical Writers in the aerospace industry can use the knowledge they gain about the design and manufacturing of aircraft and spacecraft to write clear and concise technical documentation.

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Quality Assurance Inspector

Quality Assurance Inspectors can gain a greater understanding of how to review and inspect aerospace structures using the knowledge provided in this course.

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Manufacturing Engineer

Manufacturing Engineers in the aerospace industry may find the insights into manufacturing methods used in aerospace to be useful.

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Project Manager

Project Managers working in the aerospace industry can benefit from the knowledge about loads, stresses, design, and materials provided in this course.

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Sales Engineer

Sales Engineers in the aerospace industry may find this course useful for learning about the materials and manufacturing methods used in the aerospace industry in order to better assist clients.

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Technical Support Specialist

Technical Support Specialists in the aerospace industry can gain valuable knowledge about the materials and manufacturing methods used in the aerospace industry in order to better assist clients.

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Quality Control Manager

Quality Control Managers in the aerospace industry can gain valuable knowledge about the different materials used in aerospace, as well as manufacturing methods by taking this course.

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