alex cruickshank

I undertook research to increase the oven size of wafer production plates for the production of food wafers, with the intent of determining the impact of thermal fatigue on the production plates, whilst maintaining a food grade production environment with close tolerances for end product dimensions and density.

Responsible for STC applications with EASA and for VSTC applications with 'third countries' for Medical Stretcher Installation and Emergency Medical Systems in both Rotary and Fixed Wing aircraft.

Stress analysis of Antenna, electronics racks & cockpit instrumentation installation on Super- Puma/Cougar helicopter & aircraft defense systems deployment loading analysis.

Stress responsibility: Cockpit/Nose: Cockpit frames including all sidewalls, floor frames & roof structure. Sizing of flight controls systems including tension regulators, centre console and the instrumentation panel, all to comply with FAR/JAR pilot inputs load requirements. Further tasks included report writing and load case selection for mounting structure of various system items in the aft fuselage

Stress responsibility for configuration, sizing and certification compliance of Door surrounds (Emergency Exit, Pax Door & Cargo Door) and Windshield Structure. All work undertaken using Nastran/Patran & traditional hand calcs & internal proprietary software.

Stress analyst on thrust reversers for B787. Hand calculations and Patran/Nastran analysis undertaken on translating sleeve metallic fittings and composite panels. (analysis included buckling analysis, nodal analysis & static analysis) all in accordance with FACC/Goodrich & Boeing supply chain requirements.

Stress analyst on VTP fintip for A400M. Hand calculations and Patran/Nastran analysis undertaken for all metallic substructure, and interfaces with adjacent composite panels. (Analysis included buckling analysis, static analysis, thermal mis-match and pseudo-fatigue checks undertaken in compliance with Airbus requirements).

Stress analyst on Cargo Floor for A400M. Hand calculations and Patran/Nastran analysis undertaken for Primary Cargo handling fittings. Leading a team of 6.

Stress lead on Sec 46 passenger entry door surround structure on Boeing 787. Responsible for communication with IAI, Alenia & Boeing, technical compliance with Boeing static and fatigue methods. Main analysis included door sills (composite) and main door frames (Ti alloy). Local detailed models generated using Patran/Nastran where applicable. Also interim lead for the hydraulic piping and ducts in and around the main wheel well bay for the Boeing 787. Leading a team size that varied between 3 & 7.

Airbus A380: High Lift (Flaps) Group, inter flap seal (IFS) region of wing trailing edge. Provided design support for IFS mechanism structure for freighter variant. F.E. modelling of components using Patran/Nastran (Pax & Freighter variants)

Airbus Single Aisle (A318/319/320/321): Stress analysis using traditional hand calculations in conjunction with Airbus methods and workstation tools on Airbus wing manufacturing errors. Section leader & single point of contact for technical enquiries & checker. Airbus A380: Stress analysis for sizing of rear spar root joint on A380, both passenger & freighter variants. (static and fatigue analysis) Nimrod: Stress analysis and configuration optimisation of FTI workstations for Flight engineers. Also included attachment of workstations to existing production structure, including fatigue calculations and post Flight test repair schemes. Also lead stress on flight control system resizing for revised loads loop.

A masters degree with a focus on management rather than on manufacturing and/or computers. A good focus on teamwork & team building in a manufacturing environment and Lean manufacturing techniques. Change management was also a strong subject within this Masters course. Activities and Societies: Continuations of Scuba diving activities and the joining of a local running club.

A broad base engineering Degree with a focus on Aerospace/lightweight structures and propulsion (tubines, gas engines and rockets). Corpoarte and Financial aspects were also included, which at the time was novel for an engineering degree at this level. Activities and Societies: Parachuting Club (1 year as treasurer) Scuba Diving Club (1 year as President & 1 year as Training Officer)

An introduction to engineering with workshops, basic manufacturing methods, mathematics. Various sociology aspects were introduced, touching on marketing, sales & sociology and social differences between US/UK when compared to Germany/Japan funding and corporate culture. Activities and Societies: Running and swimming.