Senior Structural Analysis Engineer

Omer Kurt

Structural analysis engineer who released fighter aircraft components across three generations on Turkey's KAAN program

My work covers static strength analysis of composite and metallic structures, load path engineering, joint analysis, and concept studies. I also develop automation tools that serve 200+ engineers.

5+
Years on KAAN
3
Aircraft Gens
12
Tools Built
17K+
Est. Workhours Saved/Yr
Scroll

Structural Analysis Engineer

I am a Senior Structural Analysis Engineer at Turkish Aerospace, working on the TF-X (KAAN) 5th-generation fighter aircraft program. Over the past 5+ years, I have performed static stress analysis, joint analysis, sizing, and concept studies for composite and metallic center fuselage structures across three aircraft generations (P0, Block 0, Block 10).

Recognized as the top-performing engineer among 100+ analysts in two consecutive years, I bring deep structural mechanics knowledge and apply it to build automation tools that streamline structural analysis workflows. Those tools now support 200+ engineers and save an estimated 17,000+ engineering hours annually through model preparation, analysis, and communication of sizing results.

These tools address real engineering challenges; mapping properties between mesh configurations, calculating fastener stiffness, filtering 100GB+ datasets, and generating interactive stress reports.

3
Aircraft Generations Released
#1
Best Performing Engineer (2 Years)
30+
Parts Released
6
Programming Languages

Three Aircraft Generations Sized

Performed structural sizing and stress substantiation on center fuselage structures across all three KAAN generations.

KAAN P0 Prototype

P0 Prototype

First Flight – 21 February 2024

KAAN Block 0

Block 0

In Production

Parts Released

Block 10

Released – Awaiting Production

Analysis Highlights

Key structural analysis domains where I have delivered substantive engineering work.

Load Path Engineering

Redesigning load paths in metallic and composite center fuselage structures through GFEM and DFEM-based design iterations—evaluating hundreds of design alternatives with straps, tension fittings, different materials, sizings, and new structural members to improve strength, reduce weight, and account for manufacturability.

Joint Analysis – Composite & Metallic

Bolted joint analysis for both composite and metallic structures—pure bearing, pure bypass, bearing/bypass interaction, pull-through, etc.—across hundreds of joints per aircraft generation. Developed i-JAT to automate load extraction, spreadsheet-based joint sizing, and result compilation. Used by 35 engineers, it saves an estimated 6–14 hours of hands-on work per engineer per iteration.

GFEM-to-DFEM Transition

Defining DFEM loads and boundary conditions during GFEM-to-DFEM transition, mapping forces, temperatures, and pressures, and checking equilibrium against GFEM-derived loading. Building models to run thousands of load cases.

Skills & Technologies

Aerospace structural analysis expertise backed by strong automation and tooling skills.

S
Structural Analysis
Static Stress Buckling Crippling Inter-Rivet Buckling Bearing/Bypass Lug Analysis Pull-Through Residual Strength Damage Tolerance Load Path Analysis Sizing DFEM / GFEM GFEM-to-DFEM Transition Test-to-FEA Correlation
C
Composites
Classical Laminate Theory OHT/OHC FHT/FHC CAI / SAI Effect of Defects Failure Criteria Sandwich Structures
M
Materials & Standards
MMPDS ESDU HSB Bruhn Niu Aluminum Titanium Steel CFRP
F
FEA Software
HyperMesh MSC Nastran Simcenter Nastran HyperView Abaqus ANSA Catia V5/V6 3DExperience
P
Programming
Python TCL VBA VBScript JavaScript HTML/CSS
L
Libraries & Frameworks
NumPy Pandas PyTorch pyNastran Plotly Three.js SciPy PyQt5 Tkinter HDF5 / PyTables DuckDB Numba

Engineering Tools

Production-grade tools automating FEA workflows for the aerospace industry. Annual engineering-hour savings are estimates based on recurring use and hands-on work saved. Click any card for details.

FlexView GUI Screenshot
FlexView
Visualization

FlexView: TF-Xplorer

v3.31

Interactive 3D mesh visualization generating S2D HTML reports. The standard data transfer method between 150+ analysis and 70+ design engineers, saving an estimated 10,000 engineering hours annually through visualization and S2D reporting.

  • Property, element and node based visualization modes
  • Interactive Plotly 3D with different coloring schemes
  • Comprehensive legend editor
  • Integrated documentation editor
Python Plotly JavaScript pyNastran
32,000+ lines Details →
OptimEX GUI Screenshot
OptimEX
Engine

OptimEX

v2.56 · Optimization Framework

Generalized metaheuristic optimization framework using Excel, executables, or ML models as evaluators. Supports single and multi-objective optimization with 10 algorithms.

  • 10 algorithms: GA, DE, PSO, CMA-ES, NSGA-II/III, MOEA/D...
  • Excel, EXE, Python, and ONNX ML evaluators
  • Single and multi-objective optimization with Pareto front extraction
  • ML model training pipeline with ONNX export
Python PyQt5 pymoo DuckDB
63,500+ lines Details →
i-JAT
Engine

i-JAT

v2.1 · IFEM Joint Analysis Tool

Multi-process automation orchestrating HyperMesh and Excel for end-to-end bolted joint analysis of composite and metallic aircraft structures. Used by 35 engineers, saving an estimated 4,000+ engineering hours annually.

  • HyperMesh + Excel parallel orchestration
  • Full analysis & re-analysis workflow modes
  • Composite & metallic joint support
  • Modern PyQt5 GUI with extensive error handling
Python PyQt5 openpyxl TCL
15,500+ lines Details →
SADE GUI Screenshot
SADE
Engine

SADE

v2.62 · Strength Analysis Engine

Automated von Mises strength analysis with intelligent element classification by connection type and vectorized thickness optimization. Saves an estimated 1,000 engineering hours annually.

  • Allowable stress based element classification (CBUSH, T, L)
  • Vectorized Pandas/NumPy analysis engine
  • Automatic thickness optimization
  • Multi-format export with property summaries
Python Pandas NumPy pyNastran
3,000+ lines Details →
BADE GUI Screenshot
BADE
Engine

BADE

v3.22 · Buckling Analysis Engine

Extracts buckling mode data from Nastran results with structural connectivity analysis, coplanarity detection, and T-connection awareness. Saves an estimated 1,000 engineering hours annually.

  • OP2 and PCH dual format support
  • T-connection and coplanarity detection
  • Cubic thickness optimization
Python NumPy Pandas pyNastran
2,300 lines Details →
SAFiR GUI Screenshot
SAFiR
Data Tool

SAFiR

v2.97 · Structural Analyst's File Filter

High-performance BDF/TXT/CSV filtering with streaming architecture for 100GB+ files, entry-aware processing, and complex Boolean expressions.

  • 100GB+ files with constant memory usage
  • Entry-aware BDF with continuation lines
  • Aho-Corasick multi-pattern matching
  • 8 search types with AND/OR expressions
Python Pandas ahocorasick chardet
3,700 lines Details →
Huth Stiffness Updater GUI Screenshot
Huth Stiffness Updater
Utility

Huth Stiffness Updater

v2.53

Calculates CBUSH fastener stiffness using the Huth formula, featuring support for CLT-based composite materials, multi-plate analysis, and the dual-CBUSH method.

  • Huth formula: shear + axial stiffness
  • Classical Lamination Theory (CLT) for composite material stiffness calculation
  • CBUSH and material orientation handling
  • Multi-plate analysis support
  • Airbus dual-CBUSH method support
  • Batch stiffness updates for CBUSH elements
Python PyQt5 NumPy pyNastran
8,000+ lines Details →
Property Mapper GUI Screenshot
Property Mapper
Utility

Property Mapper

v1.61

Intelligent property transfer between FE meshes using proximity analysis, surface normal alignment, and ray casting with 5-level confidence assessment. Saves an estimated 480 engineering hours annually across 20 engineers.

  • 4-stage pipeline with ray casting as tie-breaker
  • 5-level confidence scoring system
  • R-tree + KDTree dual spatial indexing
  • Preprocessed TCL script for mapping verification
Python trimesh SciPy rtree
3,600 lines Details →
RBE Mapper GUI Screenshot
RBE Mapper
Utility

RBE Mapper

v1.37 · Rigid Element Generator

Automatically generates RBE2/RBE3 rigid body elements with spatial algorithms, exclusive assignment modes, and colinearity detection. In a representative RBE3 generation case, reduced processing time from about six hours with my earlier TCL script to about ten seconds.

  • RBE2 and RBE3 element generation
  • Priority-based conflict resolution
  • KD-tree O(log n) spatial queries
  • Slave colinearity detection via cross-product
Python NumPy SciPy Tkinter
2,900 lines Details →
Thermal Mapper GUI Screenshot
Thermal Mapper
Utility

Thermal Mapper

v1.22

Maps thermal loads between different FE meshes using KNN interpolation with inverse distance weighting for coupled thermal-structural analysis, shortening the wait for mapped temperature loads.

  • K-Nearest Neighbors + IDW interpolation
  • Optimized KDTree spatial preprocessing
  • Distance based quality analysis and reporting
Python SciPy Numba NumPy
1,100 lines Details →
SPCD Mapper GUI Screenshot
SPCD Mapper
Utility

SPCD Mapper

v1.25

Interpolates prescribed displacement loads between meshes, preserving load case structure and DOF definitions for boundary condition transfer.

  • K-Nearest Neighbors + IDW interpolation
  • Optimized KDTree spatial preprocessing
  • Distance based quality analysis and reporting
Python SciPy Numba Tkinter
1,300 lines Details →
CF HyperMesh Toolbox
Integration

CF HyperMesh Toolbox

v2.0 · Team Plugin

Comprehensive HyperMesh plugin with 75+ procedures for FEM model preparation, fastener modeling, quality checks, and analysis setup. Saves an estimated 1,200 engineering hours annually across 50 engineers.

  • EasyFast: automated fastener creation
  • RBE3 mapping with colinearity checks
  • 6 tabbed categories, 75+ procedures...
TCL/Tk HyperMesh API VBScript Nastran BDF
20,000+ lines Details →

Professional Experience

Building aircraft structures and the tools to analyze them.

January 2021 – Present

Structural Analysis Engineer

Turkish Aerospace – TF-X (KAAN) 5th Generation Fighter Aircraft

  • Performed static stress analysis (strength, buckling, crippling, bearing/bypass, residual strength, effects of defects) and sizing of composite and metallic center fuselage structures across three aircraft generations
  • Performed GFEM-to-DFEM transition, defining DFEM loads and boundary conditions, mapping forces, temperatures, and pressures, checking equilibrium against GFEM-derived loading, and building models to run thousands of load cases
  • Prepared GFEM models, extracted internal loads, and performed hand calculations, detailed joint analysis, and interface substantiation, including MLG-to-airframe fittings (hardpoints), brackets, cutouts, and system connections
  • Evaluated hundreds of design alternatives for strength, weight, and manufacturability, using DFEM, GFEM, or hand calculations to assess material and thickness changes, straps, tension fittings, and new structural members
  • Participated in two KAAN full-scale static tests. For the components I analyzed, assigned strain-gauge locations, prepared strain predictions and gauge corrections, monitored measured strains, and verified them against my FE model predictions
  • Investigated actuator loads for main landing gear full-scale static testing using FE response models
  • Prepared structural substantiation reports for composite and metallic airframe components to support aircraft certification, and conducted mitigation studies for critical regions identified in those reports
  • Reviewed and dispositioned nonconformity reports (NCRs) for metallic and composite manufacturing defects, assessing structural impact and providing repair alternatives
  • Analyzed sub-structures for modal frequency requirements and thermal stresses; substantiated system-to-structure interface connections and brackets
  • Developed FlexView, generating interactive S2D (Stress-to-Design) HTML reports, becoming the standard data transfer method between 150+ analysis and 70+ design engineers
  • Built 12 automation tools (Python, TCL, VBA, VBS) for FEM model preparation, load extraction, bolted joint, strength, and buckling analysis, and report generation, saving an estimated 17,000+ engineering hours annually across the toolset
November 2018 – May 2020

Working Student

Turkish Aerospace – Satellite Structural Testing

  • Designed and optimized a vibration test fixture for satellite testing using topology and parametric optimization in FEA, minimizing weight while maximizing fundamental frequency

Academic Background

Master of Science

Middle East Technical University

Mechanical Engineering

September 2021 – January 2025

Thesis: Graph Neural Networks as Surrogate Models for Structural Analysis: A Study on Buckling Behavior
View Repository

Bachelor of Science

Gazi University

Mechanical Engineering

September 2015 – June 2020

CGPA: 3.68 / 4.00 – Ranked 1st in class

Let's Connect

Open to discussing structural analysis, aerospace engineering, and potential collaborations.