REMINDER: Syllabi are to be used to evaluate general content, are not binding and may/may not

include updates for the upcoming semester

Structural Dynamics and Aeroelasticity: Course Syllabus

Manav Bhatia

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Instructor
Name

Office
Phone
Email

Dr. Manav Bhatia

Assistant Professor
Department of Aerospace Engineering
Mississippi State University
Walker Engineering Bldg., Rm. 318 C
(662) 325-7294
bhatia@ae.msstate.edu

Course Description

Aeroelasticity studies the interaction of aerodynamics and structural motion. With the flight vehicles continuing to push performance boundaries with higher flight speeds and lighter (and more flexible) structures,
aeroelasticity has become a major consideration in their design.
This course will cover the essential elements of structural dynamics and extend those concepts to aeroelasticity. This will be followed by the study of static aeroelastic phenomenon, such as divergence, control
surface reversal, etc. The dynamic aeroelastic phenomenon studied will include both flutter instability and
gust response. The students will learn about solution methods in the frequency-domain and the time-domain.

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Method of Instruction

Course will comprise of lectures delivered face-to-face in class-room.

Textbooks and Course Materials

Course Textbook

Wright, J. R. and Cooper, J. E., Introduction to Aircraft Aeroelasticity and Loads, 2007, John Wiley & Sons
Ltd., England.
Additional supporting material will be provided as hand-outs, or in electronic form.

Useful References: Structural Dynamics

Meirovitch, L., Elements of Vibration Analysis, McGraw-Hill, 1975.

Useful References: Aeroelasticity

Bisplinghoff, R. L., Holt A., and Robert L. H., Aeroelasticity, Dover Publications, 2013.
Bisplinghoff, R. L., and Holt A., Principles of Aeroelasticity, Dover Publications, 2013.
Assistant

Professor, Department of Aerospace Engineering, Mississippi State University, email: bhatia@ae.msstate.edu

 Fung, Y. C., An Introduction to The Theory of Aeroelasticity, Dover Publications, 2002.

Hodges, D. H., and G. A. P., Introduction to Structural Dynamics and Aeroelasticity, 2nd ed., Cambridge University Press, 2011.
Dowell, E. H., A Modern Course in Aeroelasticity, 5th ed., Springer, 2015.

Prerequisites
Vibrations (EM 3413) or equivalent

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Programming experience in Matlab or any other language of students choice

Course Outline

The course will cover the following topics:

1. Vibration of single and multiple degree-of-freedom systems (2)

2. Vibration of Continuous systems (4)

(a) Natural modes and orthogonality

(b) Response by modal analysis

(c) Kinetic and potential energy

3. Variational Principles for solution of dynamic systems (3)

4. Lagranges Equation and Rayleigh-Ritz method (5)
(a) Hamiltons principle

(b) Generalized coordinates

(c) Conservative systems

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(d) Non-conservative systems

5. Free and forced response (3)

6. Topics in Random vibration (5)

(a) Probability density functions and Autocorrelation functions

(b) Power Spectral density functions

(c) Response of systems to random excitations

7. Overview of unsteady potential flow theory (3)

(a) Frequency-domain sectional aerodynamics

(b) Time-domain sectional aerodynamics

8. Static Aeroelasticity (5)
(a) Divergence
(b) Control reversal
(c) Steady-state solution
9. Dynamic Aeroelasticity: Flutter (5)

(a) Concept of frequency-domain, Laplace-domain and time-domain solvers

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(b) V gmethod
(c) pkmethod
10. Dynamic Aeroelasticity: Discrete Gust Response (3)
11. Dynamic Aeroelasticity: Continuous Gust Response (3)
12. Frequency-domain and Time-domain solution methods (4)
(a) Frequency-domain to time-domain conversion
(b) State-space flutter solution

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Method of Evaluation

Assignments (Weekly) 70%

Final Project
30%
The graduate students will be given one additional problem per assignment/project. The problem will
be of a higher difficulty level and will count towards the final score on each assignment/project. The
undergraduate students will NOT be required to solve these problems.

Grading

A
B
C
D
F

90%-100%
80%- 89%
70%- 79%
60%- 69%
<60%

Academic Honor Code

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Cheating will not be tolerated in this course and will be dealt with according to Mississippi State University
policy. Students are expected to adhere to and uphold the standards of the official honor code of the
University: As a Mississippi State University student, I will conduct myself with honor and integrity at all
times. I will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor will I accept the actions of those who do.

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