Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Bernoulli's Principle • Flight Envelope • Lift Coefficient

Structural Analysis

Term from Aerospace Engineering industry explained for recruiters

Structural Analysis is a key engineering process used to determine if aircraft, spacecraft, and their components are strong and safe enough for flight. It's like doing a thorough safety check on a building, but for flying vehicles. Engineers use this process to make sure parts won't break or bend during flight, landing, or extreme conditions. They might use computer programs (like NASTRAN or ANSYS) or mathematical calculations to predict how different materials and designs will perform. When you see this term on a resume, it means the candidate knows how to evaluate and ensure the safety and reliability of aerospace structures.

Examples in Resumes

Performed Structural Analysis on commercial aircraft wing components using industry-standard software

Led team responsible for Structural Analysis and Stress Analysis of spacecraft payload integration

Conducted Structural Analysis and Structural Design for composite materials in helicopter rotor blades

Typical job title: "Structural Analysis Engineers"

Also try searching for:

Structural Engineer Stress Engineer Aerospace Structural Engineer Static Loads Engineer Structural Design Engineer Strength Analysis Engineer

Where to Find Structural Analysis Engineers

Professional Organizations

Online Communities

Job Resources

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you approach analyzing a complex aircraft structure that's showing unexpected behavior in flight?

Expected Answer: A senior engineer should describe a systematic approach: gathering flight data, reviewing design specifications, using multiple analysis methods, considering environmental factors, and leading a team through the investigation process while maintaining safety standards.

Q: How do you validate your structural analysis results?

Expected Answer: Should explain the importance of comparing computer analysis with real-world testing, using multiple analysis methods to cross-verify results, and having a peer review process. Should mention experience with industry standards and certification requirements.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What factors do you consider when analyzing a composite material structure?

Expected Answer: Should discuss basic differences between metal and composite analysis, mention layered construction considerations, and describe common failure modes. Should show understanding of material properties and loading conditions.

Q: Explain how you would analyze the effects of temperature on an aircraft structure.

Expected Answer: Should describe thermal expansion/contraction effects, mention how temperature changes affect material properties, and discuss basic methods for thermal analysis in typical flight conditions.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What are the basic types of loads that need to be considered in aircraft structural analysis?

Expected Answer: Should be able to explain basic concepts like lift, drag, weight, and landing loads in simple terms. Should demonstrate understanding of static vs dynamic loads.

Q: What software tools have you used for structural analysis?

Expected Answer: Should be familiar with at least one major analysis software (like NASTRAN or ANSYS) and able to describe basic analysis setup and result interpretation.