Syllabus

AEM 2301

Mechanics of Flight

3 Credits

 

Catalog Description:

 

Standard atmospheric properties, basic aerodynamics, generation of lift/drag. Airfoils and finite wings. Elements of aircraft performance and atmospheric flight mechanics.  Introduction to MatLab and simulations for aircraft design.

 

Course Web Address:

 

http://www.aem.umn.edu/courses/aem2301/

 

Prerequisites by Topic:

 

1. Integral Calculus (Math 1372)
2. Particle Mechanics (Physics 1301)

 

Text:

 

Introduction to Flight, 5th Edition, John D. Anderson, 2005

 

Format of Course:

 

3 Lectures per week

 

Computer Usage:

 

MatLab

 

Course Objectives:

 

Develop an understanding of aircraft flight mechanics. Understand lift and drag and wing performance. Understand and apply methods for estimating performance of aircraft. Understand performance characteristic of propeller and jet propulsion systems. Appreciate the impact of aircraft design characteristics on performance. Learn MatLab and apply it to aircraft design.

 

Course Outcomes:

 

Students who successfully complete this course will demonstrate the following outcomes by tests, homework, and written reports:

 

1. An ability to apply knowledge of math, science, and engineering. This will be accomplished by applying these disciplines to predict aircraft performance.
2. An ability to design a system, a component, or a process, to meet the desired requirements. This will be accomplished by the simulated airplane design using Matlab.
3. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems. This will be accomplished by discussing some open-ended problems in estimating the aircraft performance.
4. An ability to communicate effectively. This objective will be accomplished via the written reports on the aircraft design project.
5. An ability to use the techniques and skills of modern engineering tools necessary for the engineering practice. This objective will be accomplished by learning Matlab.
6. A knowledge of basic aerodynamics, necessary for understanding mechanics of flight.
7. A knowledge of atmospheric flight mechanics.
8. A knowledge of the performance characteristics of aircraft propulsion systems sufficient to predict aircraft performance.

 

 

Relationship of course to program objectives:

 

This course develops the fundamentals of flight mechanics and introduces aerodynamics. It provides a broad background in aerospace engineering, a background in experimental methods, problem solving, computational methods and design, and it enhances written communication skills.

 

Relationship of course to program outcomes:

 

This course provides the following outcomes:

 

1. Apply math
2. System Design
3. Identify engineering problems
4. Communication skills
5. Lifelong learning
6. Engineering tools
7. Aerodynamics
8. Propulsion
9. Flight mechanics
10. Design and conduct experiments
11. Multidisciplinary teamwork

 

Direct Measures

 

Outcome:  Design and conduct experiments

 

Performance Criteria:  Students demonstrate that they can conduct an experiment to measure the performance of a glider they built and that they can analyze and compare the data obtained to a MatLab simulation.

 

Assessment Method: project report

 

Outcome:  Multidisciplinary teamwork

 

Performance Criteria:  Students demonstrate that they can work in teams to complete the following aspects of the project:  building glider, setup and run simulation, conduct flight tests, perform data analysis, writing the report

 

Assessment Method: project report

 

Outcome:  Engineering Tools

 

Performance Criteria:  Students demonstrate they can use MatLab to simulate aircraft performance.

 

Assessment Method: Homework assignment and project report

 

Course Outline:

 

Lecture (Hrs, approx.)	Topics
8	Introduction to MatLab
12	Introduction to aerodynamics, lift, drag, moments, finite wing, wind tunnel experiment.
6	Propulsion – jets and propellers
3	Point mass equations of motion
10	Aircraft performance in steady flight – max. and min. speeds, rate of climb, ceiling, endurance, range
3	Glider design
6	Aircraft performance in accelerated flight - turning, energy method

 

Outcome Measurement:

 

Accomplished through homework, periodic exams, and written reports.

 

Go-No-Goes:

 

The go-no-goes for this course are fundamental questions on last hour exam which must all be answered correctly by the students in order for them to pass the course.

 

Student Survey Questions:

 

This course improved my ability to do the following:

 

1.      Apply knowledge of math, science, and engineering.

2.      Design a system, component or process to meet desired needs.

3.      An ability to use modern engineering tools such as MatLab.

4.      An ability to work with other students and function as a member of a team.

 

Please answer the following questions regarding this course:

 

5.      Use modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.

6.      The textbook was a useful reference and appropriate for the course.

7.      The design project was interesting, challenging, and appropriate for the course.

 

In this course I acquired the following:

 

8.      Knowledge of basic aerodynamics, necessary for understanding mechanics of flight.

9.      Knowledge of atmospheric flight mechanics.

10.  Knowledge of the performance characteristics of aircraft propulsion system sufficient to predict aircraft performance.

11.  Knowledge of the overall aircraft performance characteristics.

12.  A basic knowledge of MatLab.

 

Last modified:

 

2010-2-8