AE 4220 Guest Lecture

 

Application of Finite Element Analysis for Airplane Loads, Dynamics & Structures Development

 

 

ft. 

 

Jack Castro 

Sr. Technical Fellow | Boeing

 

Tuesday, March 10
12:30 - 1:45 PM
ESM 201

 

About the Seminar: 

This lecture explains how Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is used at scale in airplane development, covering regulatory context and historical perspective as well as practical application. Topics include the application of FEA to airframe design and convergence, structural loads analysis, flutter and dynamic response, and the role of FEA in supporting structural testing. Specific examples will illustrate FEA applications to airframe components and propulsion systems. The talk concludes with finite element model planning and key verification and validation insights to ensure effective, program-ready outcomes with FEA.

 

About the Speaker: 

Jack Castro is a Sr. Technical Fellow at Boeing, where he is responsible for Structural Simulation Strategy and Execution. In this executive role, Jack enacts strategy with collaborative initiatives targeted at both internal Boeing organizations and software suppliers. In his day-to-day activities, Jack provides aircraft program consulting on finite element analysis, analysis planning, model development, verification, validation and loads convergence. Jack is also the enterprise FEA Design Practice Leader and co-author/editor of Boeing’s Book 5-- Finite Element Analysis of Aerospace Structures. Prior to Boeing, Jack worked at MSC Software for 25 years in positions ranging from Nastran QA Engineer to Boeing Global Technical Program Manager. During the majority of this time, he worked in customer-facing roles providing on-site consulting and leadership in the usage, collaborative development and deployment of MSC Nastran based solutions in the domains of stress analysis, dynamics, substructures/ROMs, internal/external/aeroelastic loads and structural optimization. Jack is a graduate of University of California, Los Angeles with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering and Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering.