Undergraduate - UnitMAE1041 - Introduction to aerospace engineering

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Synopsis

This unit will introduce students to the world of flight. It will give them an historical perspective on the evolution of aerospace vehicles and their design. The underpinning discipline areas of aerospace engineering flight mechanics; aerodynamics and propulsion, will be presented in simplified form and then integrated through the processes of analysis and design. Subsonic and supersonic aircraft and their differences will be examined. Students will gain an appreciation of the key aspects of aircraft performance and design.

Outcomes

To understand the evolution of aerospace vehicles and be able to articulate how this has resulted in modern aircraft. To be able to differentiate between the engineering activities of design and analysis and understand their relationship in aerospace vehicle design. To be able to calculate the basic relevant physical properties in different aerospace environments. To gain a basic appreciation of fluid dynamics related to aircraft flight. To understand the physical bases of and be able to differentiate between the different forces acting on aerospace vehicles, calculate their magnitude and direction and the balance between them. To be able to perform basic calculations of the forces involved in different methods of propulsion, including propellers, jets and rockets. To be able to outline the differences between low- and high-speed flight and nominate the basis of how the forces in each are calculated. To understand the basic aspects of aircraft performance in steady and accelerated flight, takeoff and landing, and be able to numerically estimate anticipated aircraft performance. To gain an appreciation of trade-offs made in a variety of example aircraft designs and to understand the roles played by the key physical quantities of thrust, weight and wing area in aircraft design. To understand the basic aspects of aircraft longitudinal stability and control.

Assessment

Test and assignments 30%, Examination (3 hours) 70%

Chief examiner(s)

Professor Chris Davies

Contact hours

3 hours lectures, 3 hours of problem solving classes/laboratory and 6 hours of private study per week

Prohibitions

MAE1415