Course Outline
AME203 Aircraft Structures & Systems
Course Coordinator:Adrian McCallum (amccallu@usc.edu.au) School:School of Science, Technology and Engineering
2026Trimester 2
UniSC Moreton Bay |
Blended learning | Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online. |
Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.
What is this course about?
Description
In this course you will develop detailed knowledge of the theoretical and practical aspects of aircraft structures and systems.
How will this course be delivered?
| Activity | Hours | Beginning Week | Frequency |
| Blended learning | |||
| Learning materials – Asynchronous weekly learning material | 1hr | Week 1 | 12 times |
| Seminar – On campus | 1hr | Week 1 | 3 times |
| Tutorial/Workshop 1 – On campus | 2hrs | Week 1 | 10 times |
| Laboratory 1 – On campus | 2hrs | Week 2 | 5 times |
Course Topics
Topics may include:
- Stress-Strain Concepts, relationships and experimental measurement of surface strains
- Principles of Stressed Skin Construction
- Structural Components of aircraft including structural Classification
- Airworthiness Requirements for structural strength and airframe Loads
- Combined Loading
- Structural Failure, Joining of Structures and Structural Design
- Surface Treatments
- Components, function & operation of a comprehensive range of aircraft systems
What level is this course?
200 Level (Developing)
What is the unit value of this course?
36 units
How does this course contribute to my learning?
| Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... | Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... | Professional Standard Mapping * Competencies from multiple Professional Bodies (see below) * | |
| 1 | Classify the various structural components of an aircraft, demonstrating an in-depth knowledge of their roles and interactions within the overall system. | Knowledgeable |
1, 1, 1.3.a, 1.3.a, 1.3, 1.3 |
| 2 | Analyse the effects of combined loading on aircraft structures, considering multiple forces and their interactions to ensure structural integrity. | Creative and critical thinker |
2, 2, 2.1.a, 2.1.a, 2.1, 2.1 |
| 3 | Determine signs of structural failure and identify appropriate methods for joining and repairing aircraft structures to restore their integrity. | Creative and critical thinker |
2, 2, 2.1.b, 2.1.b, 2.1, 2.1 |
| 4 | Apply structural design principles and tools to optimise aircraft performance, considering factors such as material selection, load distribution, and stress concentration. | Empowered |
2, 2, 2.2.a, 2.2.a, 2.2, 2.2 |
| 5 | Apply technical knowledge on stressed skin construction to design aircraft structures, considering factors such as load distribution and weight optimisation. | Empowered |
2, 2, 2.3.a, 2.3.a, 2.3, 2.3 |
| 6 | Comply with airworthiness requirements for structural strength, ensuring that aircraft structures meet safety regulations and industry standards. | Ethical |
3, 3, 3.1.a, 3.1.a, 3.1.b, 3.1.b, 3.1, 3.1 |
* Competencies by Professional Body
| CODE | COMPETENCY |
| Engineers Australia Stage 1 Professional Engineer Competency Standards | |
| 1 | Elements of competency: Knowledge and Skill Base |
| 1.3.a | Knowledge and Skill Base - In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline: Proficiently applies advanced technical knowledge and skills in at least one specialist practice domain of the engineering discipline. |
| 1.3 | Knowledge and Skill Base: In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline. |
| 2 | Elements of competency: Engineering Application Ability |
| 2.1.a | Engineering Application Ability - Application of established engineering methods to complex engineering problem solving: Identifies, discerns and characterises salient issues, determines and analyses causes and effects, justifies and applies appropriate simplifying assumptions, predicts performance and behaviour, synthesises solution strategies and develops substantiated conclusions. |
| 2.1.b | Engineering Application Ability - Application of established engineering methods to complex engineering problem solving: Ensures that all aspects of an engineering activity are soundly based on fundamental principles - by diagnosing, and taking appropriate action with data, calculations, results, proposals, processes, practices, and documented information that may be ill-founded, illogical, erroneous, unreliable or unrealistic. |
| 2.2.a | Engineering Application Ability - Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources: Proficiently identifies, selects and applies the materials, components, devices, systems, processes, resources, plant and equipment relevant to the engineering discipline. |
| 2.3.a | Engineering Application Ability - Application of systematic engineering synthesis and design processes: Proficiently applies technical knowledge and open ended problem solving skills as well as appropriate tools and resources to design components, elements, systems, plant, facilities and/or processes to satisfy user requirements. |
| 2.1 | Engineering Application Ability: Application of established engineering methods to complex engineering problem solving. |
| 2.2 | Engineering Application Ability: Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources. |
| 2.3 | Engineering Application Ability: Application of systematic engineering synthesis and design processes. |
| 3 | Elements of competency: Professional and Personal Attributes |
| 3.1.a | Professional and Personal Attributes - Ethical conduct and professional accountability: Demonstrates commitment to uphold the Engineers Australia - Code of Ethics, and established norms of professional conduct pertinent to the engineering discipline. |
| 3.1.b | Professional and Personal Attributes - Ethical conduct and professional accountability: Understands the need for ‘due-diligence’ in certification, compliance and risk management processes. |
| 3.1 | Professional and Personal Attributes: Ethical conduct and professional accountability. |
| Engineers Australia Stage 1 Engineering Technologist Competency Standards | |
| 1 | Elements of competency: Knowledge and Skill Base |
| 1.3.a | Knowledge and Skill Base - In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the technology domain: Proficiently applies advanced technical knowledge and skills to deliver engineering outcomes in specialist area(s) of the technology domain and associated industry, commercial and community sectors. |
| 1.3 | Knowledge and Skill Base: In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the technology domain. |
| 2 | Elements of competency: Engineering Application Ability |
| 2.1.a | Engineering Application Ability - Application of established engineering methods to broadly-defined problem solving within the technology domain: Identifies, discerns and characterises salient issues, determines and analyses causes and effects, justifies and applies appropriate simplifying assumptions, predicts performance and behaviour, synthesises solution strategies and develops substantiated conclusions. |
| 2.1.b | Engineering Application Ability - Application of established engineering methods to broadly-defined problem solving within the technology domain: Ensures that the application of specialist technologies are soundly based on fundamental principles by diagnosing, and taking appropriate action with data, calculations, results, proposals, processes, practices, and documented information that may be ill-founded, illogical, erroneous, unreliable or unrealistic. |
| 2.2.a | Engineering Application Ability - Application of engineering techniques, tools and resources within the technology domain: Proficiently identifies, selects and applies the materials, components, devices, systems, processes, resources, plant and equipment relevant to the technology domain. |
| 2.3.a | Engineering Application Ability - Application of systematic synthesis and design processes within the technology domain: Proficiently applies technological knowledge and problem solving skills as well as established tools and procedures to design components, system elements, plant, facilities and/or processes to meet technical specifications and performance criteria. |
| 2.1 | Engineering Application Ability: Application of established engineering methods to broadly-defined problem solving within the technology domain. |
| 2.2 | Engineering Application Ability: Application of engineering techniques, tools and resources within the technology domain. |
| 2.3 | Engineering Application Ability: Application of systematic synthesis and design processes within the technology domain. |
| 3 | Elements of competency: Professional and Personal Attributes |
| 3.1.a | Professional and Personal Attributes - Ethical conduct and professional accountability: Demonstrates commitment to uphold the Engineers Australia - Code of Ethics, and established norms of professional conduct pertinent to the technology domain. |
| 3.1.b | Professional and Personal Attributes - Ethical conduct and professional accountability: Understands the need for ‘due-diligence’ in certification, compliance and risk management processes. |
| 3.1 | Professional and Personal Attributes: Ethical conduct and professional accountability. |
Am I eligible to enrol in this course?
Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.
Pre-requisites
AME104
Co-requisites
Not applicable
Anti-requisites
Not applicable
Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)
Not applicable
Microcredential Information
Not applicable
How am I going to be assessed?
Grading Scale
Standard Grading (GRD)
| High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL). |
Details of early feedback on progress
Early feedback will be provided through completion of weekly activities in workshops. Furthermore, feedback on each assessment will be provided which will be used to help with the following assessment.
Assessment tasks
| Delivery mode | Task No. | Assessment Product | Individual or Group | Weighting % | What is the duration / length? | When should I submit? | Where should I submit it? |
| All | 1 | Practical / Laboratory Skills, and Written Piece | Individual | 50% | 2500 words |
Week 8 | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check |
| All | 2 | Examination - Centrally Scheduled | Individual | 50% | 2 hours |
Exam Period | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check |
| All - Assessment Task 1:Report | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Goal: | Develop designs of various aircraft structures and present the designs in a written report. |
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| Product: | Practical / Laboratory Skills, and Written Piece | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Authorship Statement: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Format: | Develop designs of various aircraft structures and present the designs in a written report. |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Communication, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy |
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| All - Assessment Task 2:Final exam | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Goal: | An examination on any or all material covered in the course. |
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| Product: | Examination - Centrally Scheduled | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Authorship Statement: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Format: | Paper based exam |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Communication, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy |
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Directed study hours
A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.
What resources do I need to undertake this course?
Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.
Prescribed text(s) or course reader
Specific requirements
Not applicable
How are risks managed in this course?
What administrative information is relevant to this course?
Assessment: Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.
Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.
In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.
Assessment: Additional Requirements
Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment
Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale
Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying: - The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4% - The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale - You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct
Assessment: Submission penalties
Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.
The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty
Links to relevant University policy and procedures
For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:
- Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
- Review of Assessment and Final Grades
- Supplementary Assessment
- Central Examinations
- Deferred Examinations
- Student Conduct
- Students with a Disability
For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching
Student Charter
UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.
General Enquiries
For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.
For other enquiries or to access support, please contact Student Central: