COURSE UNIT TITLE

: MECHANICAL TESTS AND STRUCTURAL STRENGTH IN AVIATION

DEGREE PROGRAMMES

Description of Individual Course Units

Course Unit Code Course Unit Title Type Of Course D U L ECTS
MTH 3514 MECHANICAL TESTS AND STRUCTURAL STRENGTH IN AVIATION ELECTIVE 2 0 0 3

Offered By

Faculty of Engineering

Level of Course Unit

First Cycle Programmes (Bachelor's Degree)

Course Coordinator

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OKAN ÖZDEMIR

Offered to

Mechanical Engineering (Evening)
Mechanical Engineering

Course Objective

The aim of this course is to introduce the types of mechanical tests applied in aerospace structures and to convey their role in the engineering design and certification process. Students are taught the fundamental principles of static, fatigue, impact, and vibration tests conducted at material, component, system, and full-scale levels. By providing information on measurement systems, sensor technologies, and test setups, students gain skills in collecting and interpreting experimental data. The course aims to enable students to analyze engineering problems using test data and to develop appropriate test plans.

Learning Outcomes of the Course Unit

1   Ability to apply fundamental engineering knowledge to aviation-related problems
2   Ability to conduct experiments, collect data, analyze, and interpret results
3   Ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
4   Ability to work effectively in interdisciplinary and multi-stakeholder engineering teams
5   Ability to prepare technical reports of engineering test results and communicate them orally/present them using engineering language
6   Competence in being open to continuous improvement in new test methods, measurement techniques, and systems, and keeping up with current information
7   Ability to evaluate the impact of test results on structural, operational, and certification processes
8   Ability to effectively use modern engineering tools, test devices, and measurement systems

Mode of Delivery

Face -to- Face

Prerequisites and Co-requisites

None

Recomended Optional Programme Components

None

Course Contents

Week Subject Description
1 Introduction to the Course and General Overview The role of mechanical testing in aviation, test levels (material, component, system, full structure), course objectives and scope.
2 Material Behavior and Fundamentals of Static Strength Stress-strain relationship, elastic and plastic deformation, engineering vs. true stress concepts, types of loading: tension, compression, and bending.
3 Aerospace Structures and Loading Scenarios Aircraft structural components (wing, fuselage, landing gear, joints), flight and ground loads, definitions of limit and ultimate loads, loading conditions.
4 Static Tests at Material Level Application of tensile, compressive, and bending tests in accordance with standards (ASTM/DIN), evaluation of test results, sample data interpretation.
5 Component and Full-Scale Static Tests Testing of large structural parts (wing, propeller, horizontal/vertical stabilizer, radome). Full-scale static tests on entire aircraft fuselage. Test fixtures and loading scenarios.
6 Measurement Systems I: Strain Gages and Test Machines Principles of strain gages, bonding techniques, Wheatstone bridge setup. Test machines (universal and servo-hydraulic systems), load cells, grips, and fixture applications.
7 Measurement Systems II: Displacement, Angle, Acceleration Sensors and Auxiliary Equipment LVDTs, angle sensors, accelerometers, data acquisition systems, integration of measurement systems into test processes
8 Introduction to Fatigue Mechanism Fundamentals of fatigue: S-N curve, fatigue limit concept, crack initiation and propagation processes.
9 Fatigue Tests and Applications Fatigue testing under constant and variable loads, cycle count, load ratio, flight profile-based fatigue scenarios.
10 Fatigue Life Calculations Basic Methods Load spectrum definition, stress history, basic theoretical methods for life estimation and sample applications.
11 Material Selection and Its Effects on Structural Strength Mechanical behavior of metal alloys and composites used in aviation, evaluation in terms of fatigue and static strength, areas of application.
12 Bird Strike and Impact Tests Physical effects of bird strikes, test systems (gas gun, high-speed camera), application examples in aviation.
13 Vibration Tests and Modal Analysis Shaker systems, determination of natural frequencies, sine and random vibration tests, modal testing applications and frequency response.
14 Mechanical System Tests (Flap, Spoiler, Landing Gear, etc.) Testing of movable mechanical systems (actuated structures) under load, functional tests using servo-hydraulic systems, strength and performance verification.
15 Final Exam

Recomended or Required Reading

Materials Science and Engineering, Callister
Engıneerıng Mechanıcs Statıcs And Dynamıcs, Hibbeler
Mechanıcs Of Materıals, Beer
Statıcs And Mechanıcs Of Materıals, Hibbeler

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

The course topics will be delivered through presentations, and practical examples will be provided.

Assessment Methods

SORTING NUMBER SHORT CODE LONG CODE FORMULA
1 MTE MIDTERM EXAM
2 ASG ASSIGNMENT
3 FIN FINAL EXAM
4 FCG FINAL COURSE GRADE MTE * 0.25 + ASG * 0.25 + FIN * 0.50
5 RST RESIT
6 FCGR FINAL COURSE GRADE (RESIT) MTE * 0.25 + ASG * 0.25 + RST * 0.50


Further Notes About Assessment Methods

None

Assessment Criteria

The course learning outcomes will be assessed through examinations.

Language of Instruction

Turkish

Course Policies and Rules

To be announced.

Contact Details for the Lecturer(s)

To be announced.

Office Hours

To be announced.

Work Placement(s)

None

Workload Calculation

Activities Number Time (hours) Total Work Load (hours)
Lectures 14 2 28
Preparation for midterm exam 1 14 14
Preparation for final exam 1 14 14
Preparation for quiz etc. 2 5 10
Midterm 1 2 2
Final 1 2 2
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours) 70

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

PO/LOPO.1PO.2PO.3PO.4PO.5PO.6PO.7PO.8PO.9PO.10PO.11
LO.143
LO.2334
LO.334
LO.444
LO.54
LO.62
LO.7
LO.84

CONTACT INFORMATION
Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Cumhuriyet Bulvarı No: 144 35210 Alsancak / İZMİR
Phone: +90(232) 412 12 12 - Fax: +90 (232) 464 81 35

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