AE25C02 Aerospace Structures – I – Semester IV – Aero / Aerospace – R-2025

Subject Code & Name: AE25C02 – Aerospace Structures – I

Regulation: R-2025

Semester: IV (Fourth Semester)

Branch: B.E. Aeronautical Engineering (Aero) / B.E. Aerospace Engineering (Aerospace)

Credits / L-T-P: 3 Credits | L-T-P: 2-0-2

Course Objectives

• To introduce the analysis of trusses, beams, and columns along with stability, failure, and fatigue behavior of aerospace structures.
• To enable evaluation and design of safe structural components using analytical methods and computational tools.

Full Unit-wise Syllabus

Unit I – Analysis of Trusses

Analysis of statically determinate and indeterminate trusses – Method of joints for force determination – Deflection of trusses using virtual work – Strain energy in linear elastic structures – Castigliano’s theorem for deflection – Basic computational analysis and validation.

Activities: Analytical determination of internal forces and deflections in truss structures with validation using basic computational tools.

Unit II – Analysis of Beams

Statically determinate beams – Deflection using energy methods – Statically indeterminate beams – Clapeyron’s three-moment equation – Continuous beams –Moment distribution method – Analysis of statically indeterminate beams for aerospace structural members.

Practical: Verification of Superposition Principle & Maxwell’s Reciprocal Theorem; Unsymmetrical Bending of Beams; Flexure Tests of Composite Specimens; Free Vibration Studies with Beams and Forced Vibration Testing

Activities: Experimental measurement of beam deflection and validation with analytical results.

Unit III – Stability of Columns and Beam-Columns

Column buckling – Euler’s buckling theory for slender members – End conditions – Rankine–Gordon formula for intermediate columns – Influence of imperfections and eccentric loading – Beam- column effects – Stability of aircraft structural members.

Practical: Experimental Determination of Buckling Load of Columns; Thin-Walled Column Strength

Activities: Determination of critical buckling load of a column model for different end conditions.

Unit IV – Theories of Failure and Fatigue

Failure theories of ductile and brittle materials – Maximum principal stress – Maximum principal strain theory – Maximum shear stress theory – Distortion energy – Octahedral shear stress criterion – Fatigue behavior under cyclic loading – Stress ratio, mean and alternating stresses – S–N curve and endurance limit – Fatigue design criteria: Goodman, Gerber, and Soderberg relations – Fatigue life assessment in aerospace structures

Practical: Installation and Performance of Electrical Resistance Strain Gauges; Strain Measurement Using Electrical Resistance Strain Gauges; Calibration of a Photoelastic Specimen

Activities: Evaluation of fatigue life of a material specimen using S–N curve and comparison with failure criteria.

Tasks: T1. Wing truss shows deformation—analyze forces and suggest improvements. T2. Fuselage beam has high deflection—reduce it using structural modifications. T3. Landing gear strut buckles—find critical load and improve stability. T4. Wing spar develops fatigue cracks—estimate life and suggest design changes.

Course Outcomes (COs)

• CO1: Explain the behavior of trusses, beams, and columns, including load distribution, deflection, stability, and basic failure concepts using classical methods.
• CO2: Analyze statically determinate and indeterminate trusses and beams using classical structural analysis methods.
• CO3: Evaluate structural deflections using energy methods and determine stability of columns and beam-columns.
• CO4: Apply appropriate failure theories for safe design of ductile and brittle aerospace structural components.
• CO5: Estimate fatigue life and establish safe stress limits for aerospace structures using fatigue design criteria and computational tools.

Assessment Pattern (Quick Note)

• Weightage: Continuous Assessment 50% | End Semester Examinations 50%
• Internal methodology: Written Test (40%), Practical (30%), Activity (30%). Practical: Lab Experiments (50%), Tasks (50%) (Each student must complete a minimum of two tasks). Activity: Review of GATE/ESE Questions (10%), Mini Project/ Quiz/ Assignment Programs/ Flipped Class /Seminar Presentation (20%)

Source: Official Anna University – B.E. Aeronautical Engineering R-2025 Syllabus
Last Updated: October 2026