This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2016 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

MAE3404 - Flight vehicle dynamics

6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL

Undergraduate - Unit

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Faculty

Engineering

Organisational Unit

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Coordinator(s)

B Shirinzadeh

Offered

Clayton

First semester 2016 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit introduces the student to the fundamental aspects in flight dynamics. The requirements and associated equations for static equilibrium and trim are developed. Further, these equations are treated to describe longitudinal static stability and lateral static stability. Performance and flying handling will be introduced. The equations of motion of a rigid vehicle are developed, together with the solution of these and introduction to state space model. The role of small perturbations, aerodynamic force and moment derivatives, aerodynamic control inputs will be established, together with linearized equations. The description of aircraft attitude and Euler angles are presented. The basis and formulations for lateral and longitudinal dynamics and stability will be developed. Control of aircrafts will also be introduced.

Outcomes

At the end of this unit, students are expected to have:

a working knowledge of the dynamic forces acting on a flight vehicle in different flight environments and an awareness of the use of equations governing dynamics in the design and use of flight vehicles in industry
an understanding of the aeronautical forces, through an understanding of finite wing theory, which contribute to the stability derivatives acting on an aircraft
an awareness of the development and use of equations governing longitudinal, lateral and directional static stability of an airplane
an understanding of rigid body dynamics and kinematics with focus on aircraft dynamics
knowledge and understanding of longitudinal and lateral vehicle dynamics, leading to aircraft's response
the ability to design and develop flight vehicles through an understanding of the underlying forces imposed on the vehicle structure
the ability to develop non-linear equations of motion and linearization of these necessary for the successful operation of flight vehicles in atmospheric flight
an appreciation of the role of flight vehicle dynamics in the design, testing and operation of flight vehicles
confidence in specifications and analysis of the flight vehicles dynamic characteristics and the control requirements
an appreciation of the fundamental principles underlying solid-body kinematics and dynamics for use in a general engineering workplace environment

Assessment

Assignments/tutorials: 30%
Examination (3 hours): 70%
Students are required to achieve at least 45% in the total continuous assessment component and at least 45% in the final examination component and an overall mark of 50% to achieve a pass grade in the unit. Students failing to achieve this requirement will be given a maximum of 45% in the unit.

Workload requirements

3 hours lectures, 2 hours practice sessions/laboratories and 7 hours of private study per week.

Chief examiner(s)

Professor Chris Davies

Prerequisites

(ENG2091 and ENG2092) or(MTH2021 and MTH2032) or ENG2006 and MEC2401