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"-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en">Aerospace Engineering 4220:
Introduction to Structural
Dynamics and Aeroelasticity
School
of Aerospace Engineering
Georgia Institute of Technology
Office: 200-C SSTC/Weber;
Phone: 4-8201
E-mail: dhodges@gatech.edu
Time and place: The class hours are 9:05-9:55 a.m., Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The place is Guggenheim 442.
Text: The text is Introduction to Structural Dynamics and Aeroelasticity by Hodges and Pierce, available at the bookstore. It will be followed straight through with few deviations. I expect you to read the entire text during the course of the semester and to come to class prepared to ask questions on material being covered at that time. I will consider any assigned reading material in the text as "fair game" for quizzes and the final exam, whether or not I cover it in lectures. For those interested in further enrichment, there are several well-known texts on the subject matter:
Lectures: The lectures will cover the theoretical foundations of structural dynamics and aeroelasticity, and the syllabus will be followed as closely as possible. Because of time limitations, some material may be covered quickly; you are expected to ask questions for clarification. If you do not ask questions, I will conclude that you understand the material. There has been a tendency for some seniors, particularly when they are enrolled in the design sequence, to cut 4220 classes. If you can learn the material without coming to class, more power to you. However, I will warn you that most students perceive this as a hard course. Do not expect to get by without a lot of work.
Examinations: There will be two quizzes and a final examination. The quizzes will count 25% each, and the final will count 40%. Should you miss class on a quiz day, a make-up quiz will only be given if you have a doctor's note stating that you are too sick to attend class or if you have a death in your immediate family. In the latter case, if possible, you must notify me before the quiz. You may either send me e-mail or you phone my office, leaving a voice-mail message if I'm not in. Note: on exams you may be asked to "show that" certain results are obtained. If you try to deceive me into thinking that you have done something that you really have not, and I catch it, you will get zero credit for that problem on the first offense, zero on the test on the second offense, and reported to the Dean of Students on the third offense.
Homework: There will be homework problems assigned (1 or 2 per week). These will be collected and graded. They will count 10% of your grade. That's a miniscule part of your grade. Understand that these homework sets are primarily assigned to help you learn. Here is wisdom! If you can work the assigned problems on your own, it is likely that you will also be able to work the problems given on the quizzes and on the final exam. If you choose dishonest routes, such as getting the solutions out of fraternity files, copying down solutions obtained from a group of your classmates, etc., you might make good homework grades. Since homework counts very little, that will be the extent of your benefit. If you never learn how to work the assigned problems on your own, it's likely that you will fail the tests. You can watch someone else solve aeroelasticity problems until doomsday and never learn anything. You will learn best by thinking them through on your own. On normal homework assignments you are authorized to work in groups of two, but no more. If you have difficulty doing any of the assigned problems, please ask in class, or see the teaching assistant or me during office hours. Whether you ask questions in class or during office hours, please have specific questions. I want to know whether or not you have really tried to solve the problem and what you have tried. If you don't let yourself get behind, you should be able to perform on the quizzes and final without last-minute panic. Late homework will not be accepted without a medical excuse. Late homework excuses will not be granted for travel to conferences, weddings, or whatever. If you must miss class because of any of these things, plan ahead and turn in the work before you leave. Note: in homework assignments you may be asked to "show that" certain results are obtained. If you try to deceive me into thinking that you have done something that you really have not, and I catch it, you will get zero credit for that problem.
Grades: Grades will not be curved, nor is there any use whatsoever made of the class average in calculating grades. My expectations for the student are independent of such things. Although D's and F's are uncommon, they are not unheard of. Students have been kept from graduating because of their poor grades in 4220.
Extra Credit: There are three ways you can boost your grade if you are not satisfied with your performance on the quizzes:
Projects must be turned in no later than the last day of class. A grade of C on the project means a substandard project that fails to meet the stated requirements in some substantial way; a B would mean a good project that meets the stated requirements; and an A would mean a project that substantially exceeds the stated requirements. On either project you may validate your code by comparing results with those of others, but you must do all your work independently.
Office Hours: My office hours are 1:15 - 2:45 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays. The teaching assistants are Tim Wang gtg176i@mail.gatech.edu (office in ESM G5, Mondays 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.) and Zahra Sotoudeh zsotoudeh3@mail.gatech.edu (office in Weber 213, Mondays and Wednesdays 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.). Their office locations and office hours are distinct from mine to give you maximum opportunity to see us when you need to.
Course Objectives for Students:
Errata for the first printing of the textbook (all these errors are corrected in the second printing)
Errata for the second printing of the textbook (all these errors are corrected in the third printing)
Errata for the third printing of the textbook
Supplement on the Treatment of Boundary Conditions
Instructions for Structural Dynamics Project
Instructions for Flutter Project
My write-up for the
Structural Dynamics project
My code for the Structural
Dynamics project
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Updated 11/30/2007