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Date: 01/10/2023

University of South Carolina

College of Engineering and Computing EMCH 777
Department of Mechanical Engineering Aerospace Structures II

SYLLABUS
1 Course Information

The course will introduce students to the world of innovation in aerospace structural design. Students will gain
insight in structural design, analysis and certification. Through an assignment, the study material will be applied
in a case study. Students can select a case based on suggestions of the teacher or propose their own design
and/or analysis case. After successful completion of the course, students will be prepared to be part of a multi-
disciplinary design and engineering team in the aerostructures industry.

Students’ abilities are assessed through and a case study composed of assignments covering all elements of
the course, homework assignments, midterm exam and a final exam.

Prerequisite(s): EMCH 577 Aerospace Structures I (recommendation only)

Corequisite(s): -
Dates: 01/09/2023 – 05/03/2023
Credit Hours: 3
Meeting Time: TTh 8:30AM - 9:45AM
Meeting Location: SWGN 2A05 (Blackboard online recording available for Apogee students)

Required for MS in Aerospace Engineering

2 Course Topics

1. History of aircraft structures

2. The industrial development process of airframe components
3. The role of airworthiness requirements in aircraft structural development
4. Functional analysis / load path analysis
5. Conceptual design of structures
6. Understanding and select applicable airworthiness requirements for a typical design problem
7. Analysis of structural components
8. Initial sizing of structures (e.g. undisturbed structure + one typical cut-out + one typical joint)
9. Selection of means of compliance finding including the definition/selection of analysis/test approaches
10. Safety philosophy and practice of the aerospace supply chain beyond design

3 Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes

Objectives
1. Familiarize students with aircraft design, especially the structural design part related to thin walled
structures and buckling prevention/analysis
2. Familiarize students with the terminology related to structural design
3. Familiarize students with airworthiness requirements
4. Enable first application of the course material to a realistic case

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Learning outcomes
Students will be able to:
1. Summarize main developments in technology throughout aviation history, with a focus on structural
developments
2. Describe the structure development process in industry
3. Summarize the role of airworthiness requirements in aircraft structural development
4. Perform a functional analysis
5. Create and present a conceptual design
6. Select applicable airworthiness requirements for a typical design problem
7. Perform an initial and/or sizing (e.g. undisturbed structure + one typical cut-out + one typical joint)
8. Describe the main structural analysis methods for aerospace structures (including buckling) and apply
those to simple problems
9. Select means of compliance finding and draft the analysis/test approach
10. Summarize the safety philosophy and practice of the aerospace supply chain

4 Course (Learning) Outcomes Assessment Matrix

Assessment Station #1 Assessment Station #2

Description Weight Description Weight
CO1 Midterm Exam 35% Case Study Assignment #1 65%
CO2 Midterm Exam 35% Case Study Assignment #2 65%
CO3 Midterm Exam 35% Case Study Assignment #5 65%
CO4 Midterm Exam 35% Case Study Assignment #3 65%
CO5 Case Study Assignment #4 100%
CO6 Final Exam 35% Case Study Assignment #5 65%
CO7 Final Exam 35% Case Study Assignment #6 65%
CO8 Final Exam 35% Case Study Assignment #6 65%
CO9 Final Exam 35% Case Study Assignment #7 65%
CO10 Final Exam 35% Case Study Assignment #7 65%

Achievement criterion
% of students who achieved above 70% on course learning outcome assessment average.

5 Relationship of Course (Learning) Outcomes to Student Outcomes

The importance of each course outcome to meeting the student outcomes is indicated with the following scale:
3 = Major importance; 2 = Moderate importance; 1 = Minimal importance; Blank if not related. The UofSC MS
Aerospace Engineering program Goals have been used as Student Outcomes keep the link with the SACS
Program Definitions.
Course Outcomes
Student Outcomes /program goals CO1 CO2 CO3 CO4 CO5 CO6 CO7 CO8 CO9 CO10
1. To provide graduate students with a 2 2 2 3
solid foundation in the critical subject
areas which underpin all of
aerospace engineering
2. To provide students with the 3 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2
opportunity to explore, in depth,
traditional and emerging areas of
aerospace engineering.
3. (Only for Phd and MS students)

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To provide graduate students with the

ability to execute a research plan, to
generate and analyze original research
results, and to communicate those results
through oral presentations and written
publications.

6 Textbook and Additional Recommend References

Textbooks
1) Aircraft Structures for Engineering Students, Seventh Edition, by T.H.G. Megson

2) Aerospace Structures Design, Analysis and Certification, by Michael van Tooren

and Darun Barazanchy.

Note: Preliminary chapters of this book will be supplied through Blackboard

Additional Recommended References

Optional 1) Fundamentals of Aircraft Structural Analysis, by Howard D. Curtis

Optional 2) Airframe Structural Design: Practical Design Information and Data on

Aircraft Structrues, Second Edition, by Michael C. Y. Niu

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Optional 3) Airframe Stress Analysis and Sizing, Third Edition, by Michael C. Y. Niu

INSTRUCTOR SPECIFIC CONTENT & POLICIES

7 Course Instructor

Name Jaspreet (Jessie) Pandher

Office Location McNAIR Center, 1000 Catawba Street, Suite 120, office 110D
Office Hours On request, email to schedule appointment
Contact Information pandher@cec.sc.edu

I am available to support you in your learning process. Feel free to email me at pandher@cec.sc.edu to make
an appointment. I check email messages regularly. Please start the subject line of your email with the course
number EMCH-777 followed by an indication of the topic (e.g. ‘Case study report issue xx) and your name (some
students use very cryptic email addresses...).

8 Grading Policy

Graded work will consist of a case study (45%), homework (15%), one midterm exam (45%), a final exam (25%)
and instructor’s discretionary points (up to 5 points). The overall grade will be assigned as follows:

Grade Points Grade Points

A 90-105 C 70-74
B+ 85-89 D+ 65-69
B 80-84 D 60-64
C+ 75-79 F < 60

Case study (45%)

Each student will select a case study in the first week of lectures. In general, each case study will consist of 7
assignments:

Assignment 1 Historic developments

Assignment 2 Development Process
Assignment 3 Functional Analysis
Assignment 4 Conceptual Design
Assignment 5 Airworthiness Requirements
Assignment 6 Analysis and Sizing
Assignment 7 Certification Approach

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Each case study assignment is a graded homework. The feedback from the Course Instructor on the case study
assignment (homework) should be incorporated in the final case study report submited on the date specified in
the course schedule (see section 11 below).

The homework assignments and case study reports should be submitted either as hardcopy or by e-mail to the
Course Instructor in pdf format or an agreed upon notebook standard. Within one week of submission, feedback
will be given in the form of digital annotations to the pdf version, annotations to the notebook file or handwritten
on a hardcopy.

Suggested case study subjects (but not limited):

Design Case Study:

- Thin walled high-stability design of a…
- Crashworthiness design of a…
- Design of a window frame for a…
- Design of a door for a...
- Preliminary layout and sizing of an airframe for urban air mobility
- Preliminary layout and sizing of an airframe for a hydrogen based aircraft for…
- Preliminary layout and sizing of an airframe for an all-electric flight vehicle for…
- Preliminary layout and sizing of an airframe for high temperature applications at Mach >5
- Structural design of a… for lightening strike and environmental loads (including creep)
- Post-Buckled design of a…
- Design of a smart and aeroelastically tailored… for a…
- Design of a composite… for space launch systems that is reusable
- Design of a cylindrical shell structure for a…
- Integrated structural battery design and a layout for...
- High-rate manufacturability design of a….
- Atoms-to-Aircraft design of a…
- Atoms-to-Spacecraft design of a…
- Fastener-free design of a shell structure for a…
- Integrated damage stoppers and/or crack arrestors for a stiffened shell on a…
- Design of a cut-out for… on a…
- Design of a hydrogen fuel tank for a….
- Any other Aircraft Design competition (AIAA, NASA, SAE …..) with a structural design part

Development of a specific analysis tool/code for:

- Virtual testing for aiding in certification proposed means of compliance from AC20.107B
- Bearing bypass
- Bonded Joints
- Non-conventional laminate (e.g. fiber steered, clutch, variable thickness)
- Plate/shell buckling
- Post-buckling
- Topology optimization of…
- Aerostructural analysis and preliminary sizing of a wing for…
- Analysis and sizing of … for flutter
- Structural batteries analysis and sizing
- Fusion bonded joints
- Influence of material properties on manufacturability and structural preformance of a…
- Continuous fiber 3D printed part FEM analysis
- Free-edge stresses in…
- Cut-outs
- Notches/holes

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Each case study will address assignments on history, development process, functional analysis, conceptual
design (form, material, manufacture/assembly), analysis & sizing, airworthiness requirements and certification
approach. A template for the Case Study Report including details on the expectations for each section is available
on BlackBoard.

Homework (15%)
There will be a select number of homework assignments to aid students in both reviewing topics from past
courses and reinforcing topics covered in class. Specific focus is placed on design, analysis, and sizing of
tradiational commercial aircraft structural components (e.g., fuselage, wing, empennage, pylon). If missed results
in a zero grade for homework assignment. No homework assignments will be dropped.

Midterm Exam (15%)

There will be one take-home midterm exam. The exam will begin at the start of the class period (8:30 a.m.) and
ends 48 hours afterwards with submission uploaded to blackboard in PDF or agreed upon format for grading by
instructor. If missed results in a zero grade for the midterm exam. Make-up exams will be accepted only in
extreme cases. No test grade will be dropped.

Final Exam (25%)

The final exam will be Thursday April 28, 2022 – 9:00 a.m. (take home with 48 hour timelimit) and will cover all
topics from the second half of the semester. The exam is 25% of the overall grade.

Discretionary Points (up to 5+ points)

Up to 5 points may be added to the student’s final average based on extra credit for other work, e.g. quizzes
and additional homework assignments not related to the case study. Quizzes and/or additional homework, if any,
will be based on concepts from the current chapter/lecture content, notes, or discussions in class. The quizzes,
if any, will take place throughout the semester at the beginning of class. While additional homework assignments
will be specified verbally in class and/or on blackboard anoucments. There will be no make-up quizzes and/or
additional homework for any reason.

9 Class Grader

Name Course Instructor

Office Location UofSC McNAIR Center
Email pandher@cec.sc.edu

10 Attendance Policy

Policies and Procedures Section

Attendance (for on-site version only)
Students are encouraged to attend each scheduled class meeting, to be on time, and to be prepared for each
class session. I do not take attendance on non-test days and whether or not you attend class is your decision
and will not affect your grade (except on test days). However, class attendance is strongly encouraged. Students
are expected to study all material covered in each class. Attendance is required on test days.

Expectations for Classroom Behavior (for on-site version only)

All cell phones are to be turned off or silenced during class (not on vibrate).

Office Hours

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I am available to support you in your learning process. Any time I am in my office you are free to visit and solicit
help. Feel free to email me at pandher@cec.sc.edu to make sure I am available. I check email messages
regularly. Please start the subject line of your mail with the course number EMCH-777 followed by an indication
of the topic (e.g. ‘Case study report issue xx) and your name (some students use very cryptic email addresses...).

Academic Integrity
Assignments and examination work are expected to be the sole effort of the student submitting the work.
Students are expected to follow the University of South Carolina Honor Code and should expect that every
instance of a suspected violation will be reported. Students found responsible for violations of the Code will be
subject to academic penalties under the Code in addition to whatever disciplinary sanctions are applied. Cheating
on a test or copying someone else’s work, will result in a 0 for the work, possibly a grade of F in the course, and,
in accordance with University policy, be referred to the University Committee for Academic Responsibility and
may result in expulsion from the University.

Accommodating Disabilities
Reasonable accommodations are available for students with a documented disability. If you have a disability and
may need accommodations to fully participate in this class, contact the Office of Student Disability Services: 777-
6142, TDD 777-6744, email sasds@mailbox.sc.edu, or stop by LeConte College Room 112A. All
accommodations must be approved through the Office of Student Disability Services.

General Exam Information:

- Exams will be open textbook and notes.
- Only calculators approved for use on the NCEES exam may be used. A list of these calculators can be found
at http://ncees.org/Exams/Exam-day_policies/Calculator_policy.php. No other electronic device of any kind
may be used during test. No headsets are allowed.
- Students are required to check all pages of a test. Missing a test question is the sole responsibility of the
student.

11 Course Outline and Lecture Schedule*

# Date Topic Assignment Due Today

1 T 1/10 Introduction
2 Th 1/12 History of Aircraft Structures Assignment 1
T 1/17 Last Day to Drop/Add w/o "W"
3 T 1/17 History of Aircraft Structures Selection of Case Study Topic

4 Th 1/19 The Aircraft Structural Design

Process
5 T 1/24 The Aircraft Structural Design Assignment 2 HW#1
Process
6 Th 1/26 Airworthiness Requirements
7 T 1/31 Airworthiness Requirements Assignment 3 HW#2
8 Th 2/02 Aircraft Loads
9 T 2/07 Aircraft Loads Assignment 4 HW#3
10 Th 2/09 Aircraft Loads
11 T 2/14 Aircraft Loads Assignment 5 HW#4

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# Date Topic Assignment Due Today

12 Th 2/16Aircraft Materials
13 T 2/21
Aircraft Materials Assignment 6 HW#5
14 Th 2/23Aircraft Manufacturing
Technology
15 T 2/28 Aircraft Manufacturing
Technology
16 Th 3/02 Mid Term Exam (48hr take-home, no class)
3/5
Sun-Sun - Spring Break (no classes)
3/12
17 T 3/14 Design Philosophies
18 Th 3/16 Load Path Design
19 T 3/21 Load Path Design
20 Th 3/23 Load Path Design
M 3/27 Last Day to Drop/Add w/o "WF"
21 T 3/28 Load Path Analysis
22 Th 3/30 Load Path Analysis
23 T 4/04 Load Path Analysis
24 Th 4/06 Load Path Analysis
25 T 4/11 Load Path Analysis Assignment 7 HW#6
26 Th 4/13 Crashworthiness
27 T 4/18 Environmental effects on load HW#7
paths/ Lightning strike
28 Th 4/20 Review Final Case Study Report
Last Day of Class

T 4/25 Reading Day

Th 5/02 Final Exam (9.00 am EST)

*This syllabus is subject to change throughout the semester as necessary

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12 Traceability

Date Person Note

2014-1-18 Michael van Tooren First Issue
2017-1-2 Michael van Tooren New Format, Case Study Assignments now included as homework
2021-1-4 Jaspreet Pandher New Instructor, course location changed to virtual due to UofC policy
for COVID-19 during Spring 2021 semester. Updated: Suggested
Case Study Assignments, Textbooks and additional recommended
references for course, conversion of in-person exams to 48hr
takehome, and updated course lecture schedule for Spring 2021
T/TH weekday slots
2022-1-9 Jaspreet Pandher Updated course lecture schedule for Spring 2022 T/TH weekday
slots. Course focus placed more on load path design and analysis
for lecture content covered.
2023-1-10 Jaspreet Pandher Updated course lecture schedule for Spring 2023 T/TH weekday
slots. Course lecture content and case study assignments updated,
more alighend with course material and focused further placed on
load path design and analysis with new special topics covered
based on feedback from Spring 2022 class. Homework assignments
added as additional learning assignment criteria, provided after
select lectures, to aid in reinforcement of lecture content.

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