Course Overview

This 5-day course offers a thorough introduction to the mechanics and structural analysis of composite materials, with a focus on aerospace applications. The course provides both theoretical foundations and practical insights into the analysis and design of advanced composite structures. Topics include stress and strain analysis, failure criteria, and buckling, as well as an introduction to mainstream manufacturing methods and the properties of fibers and matrices.

This course is ideal for engineers and technical professionals in the aerospace industry seeking to enhance their knowledge of composite structural mechanics.

Who Should Attend?

This course is designed for:

  • Aerospace engineers involved in the design and analysis of composite structures.
  • Structural analysts and stress engineers working on composite materials.
  • Manufacturing engineers seeking a deeper understanding of composite structure behavior.
  • Engineering managers who want to gain technical insights into composite analysis.
  • Recent graduates or students with a background in structural or aerospace engineering looking to expand their expertise.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will:

  1. Understand the fundamental properties of composite materials and their manufacturing methods.
  2. Perform stress analysis of composite laminates using Classical Lamination Theory.
  3. Analyze the behavior of composite beams, plates, and sandwich structures.
  4. Evaluate buckling and stress concentration in composite components.
  5. Apply failure criteria to assess damage tolerance and durability in composite structures.
  6. Gain insights into transverse shear effects and the performance of bonded and bolted joints.

Course Format

  • Duration: 5 days
  • Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Location: Online/Virtual
  • Instruction: Lectures, practical examples, and group exercises.
  • Prerequisites: Basic understanding of structural mechanics and materials science is recommended.

Day 1: Introduction and Fundamentals

Morning Session:
  • Welcome and Course Overview
  • Introduction to Composite Materials
    • History and evolution in aerospace
    • Key advantages and challenges
  • Properties of Fibers and Matrices
    • Mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties
Afternoon Session:
  • Manufacturing Processes
    • Overview of common methods: autoclave, filament winding, resin infusion, etc.
    • Impacts of manufacturing on material properties
  • Workshop: Identifying key properties for aerospace applications (team exercise)

Day 2: Laminate Theory and Analysis

Morning Session:
  • Classical Lamination Theory (CLT)
    • Stress-strain relationships in laminates
    • Governing equations and assumptions
    • Analyzing laminate stiffness
Afternoon Session:
  • Application of CLT
    • Hands-on calculation of stress and strain in laminates
    • Laminate failure modes
  • Workshop: Design and analysis of a simple laminate

Day 3: Structural Analysis of Beams and Plates

Morning Session:
  • Composite Beam Analysis
    • Deflection and stress distribution
    • Effects of anisotropy on beam behavior
  • Stress Concentrations in Composites
    • Local effects due to holes, notches, and other discontinuities
Afternoon Session:
  • Analysis of Thin Plates
    • Stress analysis using classical plate theory
    • Buckling of composite plates
  • Case Study: Evaluating the design of a composite wing panel

Day 4: Advanced Topics

Morning Session:
  • Composite Sandwich Structures
    • Core materials and their properties
    • Stress analysis and buckling behavior
    • Transverse shear effects
  • Workshop: Analysis of a sandwich panel under combined loads
Afternoon Session:
  • Analysis of Joints
    • Bonded and bolted joints: design and failure considerations
    • Stress distribution in joints
  • Damage Tolerance and Fracture Mechanics
    • Failure criteria (Tsai-Wu, Hashin, etc.)
    • Fracture mechanics of composites

Day 5: Practical Applications and Capstone Project

Morning Session:
  • Damage Analysis and Repair Techniques
    • Identifying and analyzing damage
    • Overview of composite repair methods
  • Capstone Project Introduction
    • Participants analyze and propose solutions for a real-world composite structure problem
Afternoon Session:
  • Capstone Project Presentations
    • Teams present their analysis and solutions
    • Group discussion and feedback
  • Course Wrap-Up and Final Q&A
    • Summary of key takeaways
    • Closing remarks and certificates of completion (if applicable)