Course Syllabus

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AOE 2104 Introduction to Aerospace Engineering

Instructor Information

Dr. H. Pat Artis
AOE Professor of Practice
Office:  202 Randolph Hall
email:  hartis@vt.edu
Office Hours:  Tuesday and Thursday 9:30-11:00; and by appointment

 

Graduate Teaching Assistant

Shawn Parsons
Office: 15A Randolph Hall
email: shawnmp@vt.edu
Office Hours: 12:30-2 pm Monday and Wednesday or by appointment

Principles of Community

The Virginia Tech Principles of Community will guide all our interactions together this semester; above all, this class should represent an environment in which everyone is treated with respect and encouraged to learn and grow. The VT Principles of Community are intended to increase access and inclusions and to create a community that nurtures learning and growth for all of its members; as such, they will guide our interactions this semester:

  • We affirm the inherent dignity and value of every person and strive to maintain a climate for work and learning based on mutual respect and understanding.
  • We affirm the right of each person to express thoughts and opinions freely. We encourage open expression within a climate of civility, sensitivity, and mutual respect.
  • We affirm the value of human diversity because it enriches our lives and the University. We acknowledge and respect our differences while affirming our common humanity.
  • We reject all forms of prejudice and discrimination, including those based on age, color, disability, gender, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, and veteran status. We take individual and collective responsibility for helping to eliminate bias and discrimination and for increasing our own understanding of these issues through education, training, and interaction with others.
  • We pledge our collective commitment to these principles in the spirit of the Virginia Tech motto of Ut Prosim (That I May Serve).

ABET 2000 Criteria

We will focus on presenting the course as well as structuring the homework problems, projects, and exams consistent with ABET 2000 criteria, which state that graduates in AOE must demonstrate:

(a) the ability to apply knowledge of math, engineering, and science.

(b1) the ability to design and conduct experiments.

(b2) the ability to analyze and interpret data.

(c) the ability to design system, component or process to meet needs.

(d) the ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams.

(e) the ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems.

(f) an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility.

(g) an ability to communicate effectively .

(h) the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and social context.

(i) recognition of need and ability to engage in life-long learning.

(j) knowledge of contemporary issues.

(k) an ability to use techniques, skills, and tools in engineering practice.

 

Course Description

This course is an overview of aerospace engineering from a design perspective.   We will cover topics such as:  

    • introductory aerodynamics, lift, drag, and the standard atmosphere
    • aircraft performance, stability, and control
    • propulsion
    • structures
    • rocket and spacecraft trajectories and orbits

Prerequisite courses: ENGE 1114, Physics 2305.

Course Structure

A hybrid approach will be used for this course.  

Tuesday will be a traditional lecture.   Dr. Artis will use a Surface Book with partially-completed powerpoint slides.  During lecture, he will use these slides as a digital blackboard.   PDFs of the powerpoint files will be available prior to class so that you can make your own notes.   Homework assignments will also be announced on Tuesdays. It is expected that you do the assigned reading, and begin working the homework assignment so that you can make the most of the recitations on Thursday.

Thursday will complete the lecture, present special topics, and include workout problems to demonstrate the lecture concepts.   

Primary Learning Objectives

Having successfully completed this course, the student will be able to:

  • Describe the development process for current aircraft and spacecraft technology and identify the basic components of aircraft, rockets, and spacecraft and explain their contributions to stability and control.

  •  Employ the standard atmosphere tables and equations to determine the pressure, density, and temperature as a function of altitude.

  • Evaluate the characteristics of inviscid and viscous flow using Euler’s equation, Bernoulli’s equation, energy conservation, and be able to solve isentropic flow equations.

  • Employ aerodynamic data to find the lift and drag coefficients for wings.

  • Evaluate the static performance characteristics of an aircraft including thrust available and required, power available and required, maximum velocity, rate of climb, time to climb, maximum altitude as well as range and endurance.

  • Evaluate the dynamic performance characteristics of an aircraft including landing and takeoff distance, turning flight, accelerated climb and develop and apply V-n diagrams.

  • Use the basic equations of orbital mechanics to identify and solve the four types of orbits, and discuss the application of Kepler’s laws and solve the equations of planetary reentry.

  • Describe principles of advanced spacecraft propulsion, and apply the basic equations for propeller, turbofan, turbojet, and ramjet, and rocket propulsion.

 Textbook

John D. Anderson, Introduction to Flight, 8th Edition, McGraw-Hill Education, New York, 2015.

  • This book is very expensive to purchase in Hardcover ($281.16 from Amazon.com).   Therefore, you may want to consider renting your Hardcover book from Amazon.com for $15.79.    You can also rent the eTextbook for $94.00 and then read it with a Kindle or device with a Kindle app.   Amazon Link
  • The international version of the book may be purchased on eBay for approximately $50, depending on the seller. The price includes free FedEx shipment from Malaysia or Singapore. Amazon also sells used copies of the International edition.  
  • The Virginia Tech Bookstore also has a limited number of copies available, but they are list price, which is approximately $290.

Learning Management System

All class materials (syllabus, calendar, homework assignments, lecture notes, and supplements), announcements, and grades will be distributed using the new Virginia Tech Learning Management System, http://www.canvas.vt.edu/.   Some resources to help you with Canvas:

Grading

Homework  30%
Exam 1 20%
Exam 2 20%
Book review 5%
Rocket project          5%
Final Exam 20%
Total 100%

Attendance Policy

Attendance will not be taken, however, it is expected that you attend all lectures and recitations.    If you have planned absence, please let Dr. Artis know.

Laptop Policy

The use of laptops will not be permitted in class.   Laptop screens can be a major distraction to other students, especially if you are surfing the internet instead of paying attention.   Therefore technology is limited to tablets which lay flat on the table.   If your internet activities are a distraction to other students or the instructor, you will be asked to leave the classroom.

Homework Policy

Homework will be assigned on Tuesdays, and will be due at 11:59pm on the following Monday.   Your homework submission should be submitted in digital form (PDF preferred) to the course page on Canvas.   Your submission should include a title, your name, and email address.   All work should be shown, and it must be clearly written.   Where appropriate, all dimensional units should be included.   Illegible submissions will not be graded.   Late homework will not be accepted, except for extreme circumstances or documented illness.

Honor Code Statement

The Undergraduate Honor Code pledge that each member of the university community agrees to abide by states:

“As a Hokie, I will conduct myself with honor and integrity at all times. I will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor will I accept the actions of those who do.”

Students enrolled in this course are responsible for abiding by the Honor Code. A student who has doubts about how the Honor Code applies to any assignment is responsible for obtaining specific guidance from the course instructor before submitting the assignment for evaluation. Ignorance of the rules does not exclude any member of the University community from the requirements and expectations of the Honor Code. For additional information about the Honor Code, please visit: https://www.honorsystem.vt.edu/

The following is the Honor Code written verbatim from the VT Honor System Constitution: The Honor Code is the University policy that expressly forbids the following academic violations:

  1. Cheating -- Cheating includes the actual giving or receiving of any unauthorized aid or assistance or the actual giving or receiving of any unfair advantage on any form of academic work, or attempts thereof.

  2. Plagiarism -- Plagiarism includes the copying of the language, structure, ideas and/or thoughts of another and passing off same as one's own, original work, or attempts thereof.

  3. Falsification -- Falsification includes the statement of any untruth, either verbally or in writing, with respect to any circumstances relevant to one's academic work, or attempts thereof. Such acts include, but are not limited to, the forgery of official signatures, tampering with official records, fraudulently adding or deleting information on academic documents such as add/drop requests, or fraudulently changing an examination or other academic work after the testing period or due date of the assignment.

Accommodations

If you have special needs/circumstances or require accommodations or adaptations to support your success in this course, please notify Dr. Artis no later than September 5th. Dr. Artis will be happy to talk with you in person on specific accommodations consistent with workplace standards. It is your responsibility to obtain a Faculty Letter from Services for Students with Disabilities (540.231.0858 or ssd@vt.edu), if applicable, by the specified date. Your notification will remain confidential.

Detailed Learning Objectives

Standard Atmosphere

  1. Derive the formulation for the standard atmosphere, including the various altitude definitions.
  2. Define pressure, temperature and density altitude.
  3. Use standard atmosphere tables.

  4. Perform standard atmosphere calculations

Aero/Hydrodynamics

  1. Define viscosity and discuss its implications.
  2. Calculate the shear stress at a point given a velocity profile.
  3. Define the Lagrangian and Eulerian viewpoints of a flow field.
  4. Define the concept of a streamline.
  5. Apply conservation of mass to a control volume.
  6. Use Bernoulli’s equation to calculate pressures and velocities in a flow field.

Wing Geometry

  1. Define common aircraft terminology and geometry.
  2. Identify basic aircraft types and discuss their features.
  3. Define and calculate the lift and drag coefficients using NACA data.
  4. Define and interpret CL vs. alpha, and CL vs CD curves for 2-D wing sections.
  5. Explain the difference between 2D sections and 3D wings.

Performance and Propulsion

  1. Describe the viscous and pressure drag components on a body.
  2. Define flow separation and explain where it might occur.
  3. Explain the three types of aerodynamic drag.
  4. Perform lift and drag calculations on aircraft.
  5. Perform thrust calculations.
  6. Define the thrust/power available and thrust/power required flight envelope.
  7. Describe how this flight envelope changes with altitude, including the ceiling.
  8. Perform balanced field length calculations for multi-engine aircraft.

Aircraft Stability

  1. Define the six degrees of freedom of aircraft motions.
  2. Define stable, unstable and neutral stability.
  3. Explain the difference between static and dynamic stability.
  4. Explain what is meant by static longitudinal stability for aircraft.
  5. Explain coupling in lateral and directional stability.

Structural Theory

  1. Define what is meant by a neutral axis.
  2. Define stress and strain and their relationship via Hooke’s Law.
  3. Draw a typical stress-strain diagram for brittle and ductile materials and introduce yielding and fracture.
  4. Calculate the moment of inertia of a beam’s cross-section.
  5. Solve for the stress distribution over a beam’s cross-section.
  6. Define and calculate a section modulus.

Aircraft Structure

  1. Describe the function of the primary load carrying members.
  2. Perform a spar cap sizing example.
  3. Understand the basic V-n diagram.

Space Applications

  1. Discuss the history of space research.
  2. Define orbital motion including typical spacecraft trajectories and basic orbital  maneuvers.
  3. Define the six orbital elements.
  4. Understand and be able to apply Kelper’s laws of orbits.
  5. Understand and be able to apply Newtons law of gravitation.

Contemporary Issues - Reading Assignment

  1. Read a non-fiction book on Aeronautics or Astronautics.
  2. Write a one-page book review.

Course Summary:

Date Details Due