Overview Outcomes Courses Admission
Aerospace Composite Structures
NEXT START DATE: September 25, 2024
Application opens early September 2024
LOCATION
In-person or Online
DURATION
12 months
TIMES
Evenings
TOTAL COST
$19,720 (estimated)
Program overview
This certificate program will give you proficiency in designing modern aircraft and aerospace composite structures. You'll study the mechanics of composites, learning key concepts like anisotropy and orthotropy that differ from metals' isotropic behavior. The program introduces micromechanics to estimate lamina elastic properties and strength. It then presents lamination theory in-depth for structural design applications. You'll learn laminate-level and micromechanical failure criteria and apply them to structural integrity problems. Finally, you'll explore damage and fracture mechanics for composites, comparing them to metal counterpart theories.
Designed for working professionals
If you want to learn about designing modern aircraft and aerospace composite structures and the mechanics and key concepts of composites, this certificate is for you.
Learn online or in-person
You can choose to attend classes either online or in person each week. Classroom sessions are held at the UW Seattle campus. Online classes are streamed live via web conferencing, and all sessions are recorded for later review.
Learning outcomes
- Gain fundamental knowledge on the analysis and design of advanced composite aerospace structures.
- Develop an understanding of composite properties, micromechanics, anisotropic elasticity, theory of laminated plates, bending and buckling, and fracture of composites.
- Learn the fundamentals of the Finite Element theory applied to composites and master the application of a FE software for the analysis of practical composite structures.
- Learn about traditional and modern composite manufacturing processes and how they correlate to costs, production rates, and mechanical performance.
- Obtain practical tools for stress analysis and design of typical composite aircraft structures.
- Consider the ethical and safety implications in engineering practice, including proper documentation of analysis methods, disclosure of assumptions and limitations, and consideration of potential risks to human safety and the environment.
Courses
Complete the courses listed below to earn the certificate. You may be able to take individual courses without enrolling in the certificate program.
Mechanics of Composite Materials
AE 550 (4cr)
Covers the analysis and design of advanced composite materials for aerospace structures including material properties, micromechanics, anisotropic elasticity, theory of laminated plates, bending and buckling, and fracture of composites.
Aerospace Composite Design
AE 551 (4cr)
Introduction to advanced stress analysis methods of composite structures made of beams, laminates, sandwich plates, and thin shells; stress and buckling analyses of solid and thin-walled composite beams; shear deformable theory for bending of thick laminated plates; and stress and fracture mechanics analysis of bonded joints.
Advanced Composite Structural Analysis
AE 553(4 cr)
Covers advanced stress analysis methods of composite structures made of beams, laminates, sandwich plates, and thin shells; stress and buckling analyses of solid and thin-walled composite beams; shear deformable theory for bending of thick laminated plates; and stress and fracture mechanics analysis of bonded joints.
Composite Design Practices
- culminating experience (pending final approval)
AE 55X (4 cr)
Covers a number of design applications of practical composite structures including e.g. bolted and bonded joints, analysis of honeycomb sandwich structures, and certification of composite components.
Application requirements
You will need to submit a resume or curriculum vitae, an unofficial transcript with at least a 3.0 cumulative grade-point-average, and a statement of purpose.