Feb. 25, 2008

Structures Laboratory    1 0 3 5

The aerospace structures laboratory includes experiments related to material
aspects as well as structural mechanics. These experiments are largely based
upon the syllabus covered in the courses on solid mechanics and aerospace
structures. In addition a couple of experiments on vibrations and structural
dynamics are also included for exposure, although the corresponding theory
course is not a core course. The experiments in this laboratory course cover
the following.

Fabrication of fibre reinforced composite laminate; tension, compression,
interlaminar shear, impact and hardness testing for determination of elastic
moduli and strength of material; coefficient of thermal expansion; strain
measurement; inverse methods for material property determination (Poisson's
ratio and Youngs Modulus) using measured static and dynamic structural
response in conjunction with simple structural models; shear centre of open
section thin-walled beam, displacement and strain distribution in bending
and torsion of twin-walled open and closed section beams, Buckling of
beams/plates, natural fraquency, natural modes and modal damping of
beams/plates.

References:

Laboratory Manual, Aircraft Structures Lab., Dept. of Aerospace Engineering,
IIT Bombay, 2007.