Aircraft Fatigue and Damage Tolerance

Program Overview

This one-week course (June 10-14, 2024) covers fatigue and fracture mechanics for design and maintenance engineers in the aircraft industry. It includes fundamentals, advanced topics, and case studies, taught by experts from Cranfield University and industry. The course costs £1,535 (excluding accommodation) and takes place on the Cranfield campus.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This unique, one-week course (June 10-14, 2024) has been designed for design and maintenance engineers to meet their needs in designing, analyzing, and maintaining aircraft. It covers the fundamentals of fatigue and fracture mechanics, along with practical methods and case studies on achieving durability and damage tolerance requirements. The program consists of two parts:

Part 1:

Fundamentals of fatigue analysis and fracture mechanics, applicable to automotive and civil engineers.

Part 2:

Advanced topics and case studies for engineers seeking a deeper understanding. The focus is primarily on metallic aircraft structures. There's a separate course for polymer composite aircraft structures.

Outline:

Core Content:

• Fatigue design philosophies
• Regulatory background for civil and military aircraft
• Requirements for fatigue and damage tolerant design
• Damage tolerance and material selection (strength level and toughness)
• Inspection threshold and intervals
• NDT capability requirements
• Fatigue analysis methods
• Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics in static and fatigue failure
• Calculating fatigue crack growth lives
• Workshop session on computer-based tools for life assessment
• Fatigue loading spectra
• Fatigue and fracture analysis of commuter aircraft structures
• Repair, Replacement, and Regulations
• Airworthiness lessons from Lusaka accident
• Ageing aircraft structures (current regulatory position)
• Damage tolerance and widespread fatigue damage
• Fatigue management strategies
• Evolution of Part 25 fatigue requirements
• Session on a retired Boeing 737 aircraft, viewing fatigue crack locations

Assessment:

Specific details on assessment methods and criteria are not mentioned in the text.

Teaching:

The course features expertise from both Cranfield academics and invited external speakers:

• Professor John Bristow: Visiting Professor of Structural Integrity at Cranfield University; Co-founder of Airworthiness MSc program.
Over 40 years of experience in structural design and regulations within the aircraft industry.
• Dr. Wenli Liu: Key lecturer in the Aerospace Vehicle Design group at Cranfield University; leads research and teaching in F&DT of Aircraft Structures for metals and composites.
Extensive experience in aircraft design and structural analysis with the aircraft industry (20 years).
• Dr. Alain Santgerma: Joined Airbus Fatigue & Damage Tolerance department in 1994; obtained his PhD in 1997.
Worked on all Airbus life extension projects (A300 to A340). 15 years of involvement in US and European Ageing Aircraft Working Groups. Over 20 years of experience as a Fatigue & Damage Tolerance expert.

Careers:

Specific information on potential career paths and opportunities is not mentioned in the text.

Other:

• Course location: Cranfield campus
• Cost: £1,535 (excluding accommodation)
• Concessions available (Alumni discount, group discount)
• Accommodation options available at Mitchell Hall (£560 for half-board basis)
• Application process: online application form