Although composite materials and sandwich structures impart exceptionally high degree of physical and mechanical properties to aerospace structural systems, their anisotropic nature makes their design, analysis and repairs procedures highly complex. To achieve safe, reliable and efficient flight operations, the analysts and designers need to have a sound knowledge and firm grasp of the underlying principles of the structural response of composite laminates to different types of aerodynamic loadings. Doublers are commonly used in launch vehicles to strengthen composite sandwich facesheet defects, such as gouges or depressions, because they locally increase the strength of the facesheet. Therefore, the doubler’s influence on the overall extensional and bending stiffness of the sandwich can be significant.
This one day workshop aims to provide the knowledge and understanding of the mechanics of composite materials to permit their efficient application in aerospace and space vehicle systems through oral presentation. It will explore the use of finite element based OptiStruct, HyperWorks’ and other software systems to optimize the size and shape of a composite doubler to enhance structural integrity of launch vehicles through Video Conference.