Instructed
by Dr. Sam Yunis, recently retired Senior NASA Engineer
ü Daily from 1200-1600 Eastern Time (all sessions will be recorded and available for replay; course notes will be available for download)
ü Taught exclusively to NASA employees, now available as a public course for the first time
ü All students will receive an AIAA Certificate of Completion
at the end of the course
Overview
The details of any CLA are specific to the launch vehicle and how it flies. However, the building blocks and fundamentals are consistent across all vehicle analyses. This course reviews the key basics of structural dynamics, then uses those fundamentals to create the building blocks of CLA, and finally uses those building blocks in CLA. At the conclusion of the course, the student will have a foundation to understand and develop new CLA capabilities.

Learning Objectives
- Understanding modes and reduced order modeling as needed for CLA
- Understanding how to build high-quality component models, including Craig-Bampton models, damping, and data recovery
- Understanding the building block of CLA including numerical integration, time domain methods, and frequency domain methods
- Understanding how to define and use preliminary loads
- Understanding the theory and implementation of CLA for all key events: Ground, Liftoff, Ascent (see outline for details)
- Incorporating systems engineering into CLA
- Getting ready for the future of CLA
- Detailed outline below
Who Should Attend: This course is essential for all early to mid-career engineers and graduate students seeking a deeper understanding of CLA. The course will be useful for all senior CLA analysts who want awareness of some different techniques or a refresher on existing ones. The course may also be useful for those groups providing models for CLA, to create better models by understanding how the models are used.
Course Fees (Sign-In To Register)
- AIAA Member Price: $745 USD
- Non-Member Price: $945 USD
- AIAA Student Member Price: $495 USD
Course Outline
- Fundamentals of Structural Dynamics
- Modes and reduced order modeling to matrix form
- Numerical integration of diagonal and coupled systems
- Frequency domain solutions including the FFT, PSD, and SRS
- Inertia relief
- Statistics of loads
- Preliminary Loads
- Center of Gravity Load Factors
- Mass Acceleration Curve
- Vibration Spectra
- Synthetic Transients
- Tools
- Making Good Models
- Beam Representations
- Component Model Reduction
- System Model Integration
- Damping Approaches
- Data recovery: Residual Vectors and Mode Acceleration
- Section Loads
- Model Correlation
- Uncertainty Factors
- CLA: Ground and Prelaunch
- Ground Winds
- Rollout
- Transportation and Handling
- CLA: Liftoff
- Forcing Functions
- Multibody Integration and Pad Release
- Monte Carlo
- CLA: Ascent
- Aerodynamic Static Elastic (STEL)
- Aerodynamic Gust
- Buffet
- Maneuvering Loads
- Loads Combination
- Day of Launch (DOL) Considerations
- CLA: Other Flight Events
- System ID
- Engine Oscillations and Pogo
- Start-ups and Shutdowns
- Separations or Staging
- Reentry and Landing
- Systems Engineering, Tools, and the Future
Instructor
Through many technical
and leadership roles, Sam has reviewed and performed analysis on over 50 flown
spacecraft including Cassini, Mars Missions, Pluto New Horizons, ISS, Orion
MPCV, Crew Dragon, and Starliner. Over
the past 30 years, he has provided expertise to support almost every U.S.
launch vehicle including Titan, Atlas, Delta, Falcon, Taurus, Pegasus, Ares,
SLS, Launcher-1, Terran, and Stratolaunch.
Classroom hours / CEUs:12 classroom hours / 1.2
CEU/PDH
- The course lectures will be delivered via Zoom. You can test your connection here: https://zoom.us/test
- All sessions will be available on-demand within 1-2 days of the lecture. Once available, you can stream the replay video anytime, 24/7. All slides will be available for download after each lecture.
- No part of these materials may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted, unless for course participants. All rights reserved.
- Between lectures, the instructors will be available via email for technical questions and comments.
Cancellation Policy: A refund less a $50.00 cancellation fee will be assessed for all cancellations made in writing prior to 7 days before the start of the event. After that time, no refunds will be provided.
Contact: Please contact Lisa Le or Customer Service if you have questions about the course or group discounts (for 5+ participants).