Course Contents This is a lecture course on developing the critical thinking needed to perform measurements in the Aerospace Structures and
Materials Laboratory. This includes an introduction to the most common sensors for experimental mechanics, non-destructive
testing and structural health monitoring, evaluation of the performance of these sensors, selection of sensors for different
applications and signal processing and control algorithms.
Study Goals By the end of the course, you should be able to:
1. Analyse a measurement system for the aerospace sector and to determine if it is fit for a specific application.
This learning objective acts as an umbrella objective, covering the whole course. Lower level objectives include that by the end
of the course, you should be able to:
2. Explain the principle of operation of the most common sensors and instrumentation in the aerospace structures and materials
laboratory.
3. Justify the selection of a sensor for a specific measurement application, based on sensor specifications and measurement
principle.
4. Analyse a measurement chain and determine signal accuracy and noise levels.
5. Assess the performance of signal processing and feedback algorithms for their influence on measurement noise and
accuracy.
