Structural analysis, composites, test support, and loads integration for aerospace payloads and defense programs.
Structural work at CSD spans the full program cycle — from early load path definition and structural concept through FEM development, margin closure, and test. The work is executed at the principal level, with direct responsibility for analysis and deliverables at every stage.
The objective is analysis that supports real decisions — design trade-offs, test readiness, review boards, and hardware commitments. Models are built around the question they need to answer, not around producing a generic report.
CSD supports structural programs where analysis must drive design decisions, close margins, support test readiness, and survive customer review.
Development of finite element models from first principles — idealization, load cases, boundary conditions, and mass representation. Structured for margin closure, test correlation, and integrator handoff.
Modal, random vibration, sine, and shock analysis. Payload-side CLA support including model preparation, reduction, LTM/ATM definition, and response characterization to support notching, test limits, and environment definition.
Life assessment under launch and operational environments with traceable methodology and margin basis.
Solid laminate and sandwich structures, bonded joints, and stability-critical applications including flexures and kinematic systems.
Optical benches, payload structures, and interface-sensitive systems where alignment and stability drive design.
Test planning, fixture design, instrumentation, and execution support across vibration, shock, and static environments.
Model validation, discrepancy resolution, and updating analytical basis to match hardware behavior.
Load path definition, early sizing, and structural layout to drive design decisions before hardware is committed. Analysis establishes the structural basis — interface definitions, load introductions, and critical margin drivers — so that design iteration happens analytically rather than in hardware.
Targeted analysis support for programs with late-stage negative margins, incomplete analytical basis, or test results that don't correlate with predictions. Many structural problems originate in load path assumptions or boundary conditions that were reasonable at program start and became wrong as the design evolved. The work is diagnosing where the model and the hardware diverged — and resolving it without unnecessary redesign.
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| FEM Solver | NX Nastran, MSC Nastran |
| Pre/Post Processing | Femap, MATLAB, Python |
| Modal Test | ATA Engineering toolset (IMAT) |
| Standards | NASA-STD-5002, AIAA S-110, GEVS, MIL-HDBK-5, CMH-17, program-specific IRDs |
Engagements are structured to fit program needs — time and materials, fixed-price deliverable, or embedded consulting. Work is executed at the principal level regardless of engagement type. On-site support is available as required.