Aerospace Structures Design on Computers

Book excerpt: This report, prepared for training, is intended to bring out the elements of structural design optimization on modern computers. The first section gives a cursory description of the requirements and essential disciplines involved in aircraft structural design. The second section is an optimization paper that provides the basis for optimization using large finite element assemblies. The third section provides a summary of design sensitivity analysis which is an essential element of optimization. The two appendices are the descriptions of two training programs for analysis and optimization. Each of these sections has their own references. This is an informal report intended for training and is a collection material entirely from the open literature.