Course Syllabus

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AOE 2104 Introduction to Aerospace Engineering

Instructor Information

Dr. Eric Paterson, AOE Department Head
Rolls-Royce Commonwealth Professor
Office:  215 Randolph Hall
email:   egp+AOE2104@vt.edu
phone:   540-231-2314
Office Hours:  Monday, 2:30-3:45p.m.; Wednesday, 8:00-9:30a.m.

Dr. H. Pat Artis
ESM Professor of Practice
NAR 331 Tripoli 6238 TAP Member
Office:  106 Norris Hall
email:  hartis@vt.edu
Office Hours:  Tuesday 9-12; Thursday 9-12; and by appointment

Graduate Teaching Assistants

Brandon Smith (CRN 80322 - afternoon section), brands14@vt.edu
Office Hours, 604 McBryde Hall, Wednesday 4:00-5:15p.m.

Pawan Chaugule (CRN 80323 - morning section), pawansc@vt.edu
Office Hours, 604 McBryde Hall, Thursday 4:00-6:00p.m. 

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.   Prof. Paterson will use a Surface Pro with partially-completed powerpoint slides.  During lecture, he will use these slides as a digital blackboard.   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 usually be a recitation lead by Dr. Paterson or the Graduate Teaching Assistant.   Recitation is a complement to lecture where you can ask questions and obtain clarification.   It is important to come prepared and be ready to ask questions.   If there are no questions, quizzes may be used to asses level of understanding.

Primary Learning Objectives

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

  • Use the standard atmosphere tables and equations
  • Find speeds and pressures in a flow using Bernoulli’s equation
  • Find lift and drag coefficient data from NACA plots
  • Calculate induced drag from given aircraft performance data
  • Apply the concept of static stability to flight vehicles
  • Identify the basic components of an airplane and explain their contributions to static stability
  • Determine the level flight envelope of an airplane from thrust and drag information
  • Demonstrate a basic knowledge of propulsive devices
  • Describe the function of spars, ribs, stiffeners, and longerons
  • Describe the concepts of stress, strain, Young’s modulus, Possion’s ratio, yield strength
  • Explain the concepts of shear force, bending moment diagrams, and beam analysis
  • Describe and give examples of spacecraft, space systems and space missions
  • Demonstrate a basic knowledge of dynamics relevant to orbital mechanics
  • List the key milestones in the history of aeronautics and astronautics

 Textbook

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

  • This book is very expensive to purchase in Hardcover ($230.97 from Amazon.com).   Therefore, you may want to consider renting your Hardcover book from Amazon.com for $92.40.    You can also rent the eTextbook for $86.50 and then read it with a Kindle or device with a Kindle app.   Amazon.com Link
  • Another online option is through CourseSmart where the eTextbook price is $92.40.   However, you can get an additional 10% off with the coupon code SAVEMORE10 if you purchase before August 31.    However tax and shipping will affect final cost, so be good shoppers!    CourseSmart Link 
  • 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/.   Canvas, was rolled out in Fall 2015, and will completely replace Scholar by the end of the Spring 2017 semester.  We will be early adopters.  Some resources to help you make the transition include:

Two-Year Roll-out plan for Canvas at Virginia Tech

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 Prof. Paterson 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 Honor Code will be strictly enforced in this course. All assignments submitted shall be considered graded work, unless otherwise noted. All aspects of your coursework are covered by the Honor System. Any suspected violations of the Honor Code will be promptly reported to the Honor System. According to the Constitution of the Virginia Tech Honor System "The fundamental beliefs underlying and reflected in the Honor Code are: (1) that trust in a person is a positive force in making that person worthy of trust, (2) that every student has the right to live in an academic environment that is free from the injustices caused by any form of intellectual dishonesty, and (3) that the honesty and integrity of all members of the university community contribute to its quest for Truth." (see http://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.

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.

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