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Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

EMAE 356 Aerospace Design

Spring, 2010

Instructor Professor Joseph M. Prahl418B Glennan

Phone: 368-2941

Email: jmp

Office Hours: walk-in or appointment through email

Course Description and Requirements

Catalog Description

Interactive and interdisciplinary activities in areas of fluid mechanics, heat transfer, solidmechanics, thermodynamics and systems analysis approach in design of aerospace vehicles.

Projects involve developing or improving design of aerospace vehicles of current interest starting

from mission requirements to researching developments in relevant areas and using them to

obtain conceptual design.

Prerequisites

The students must have senior standing, and are expected to have the basic mathematical andengineering background and maturity necessary to perform an engineering design study.

Course Goals

The primary course goals are to develop the students ability to formulate and conduct aconceptual design of an aerospace vehicle or system starting from mission requirements, to work

with a multidisciplinary team in developing the design, and to communicate the results of the

design study orally and in writing. This course is also intended to give the students experience ininteracting with scientists/engineers outside the university, in using a multiplicity of sources for

obtaining information, and in developing their own ideas and methods of approach. This course

aims to develop independence and the exercise of judgment in solving engineering problems.

Course Objectives

On completion of this course, students should have developed:

1. An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering to an engineeringdesign problem.

2. An ability to design a vehicle or system to meet desired needs.

3. An ability to function in multi-disciplinary teams.

4. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve an engineering design problem.

5. An ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing.

6. An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary forengineering practice.

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7. Experience in interacting with professionals in the field.

8. Independence in approach and methodology in solving engineering problems.

9. An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility.

10. A recognition of the need for, and the ability to engage in life long learning.

Requirements

The class meets twice a week 14:45-16:00, Tuesday and Thursday in Glennan 421

Although there are no regularly scheduled lectures, introductory lectures are given describing

requirements and major considerations for missions of interest. The class will then organize into

design groups. Each group formulates the details of the mission, determines the group's mode ofoperation, the design activities that must be performed, the individual responsibilities, the

schedule of work, and other aspects of the development of the design. Starting from mission

requirements, each group considers alternative ways of meeting the requirements, selects amethod to investigate in detail, and develops a conceptual design, with the help of the instructor

and the mentor(s).

Each group reports weekly, orally and in writing, on the progress of its design. Most weeksfollow a prescribed schedule of activities. One class period is devoted to presentations of designprogress and discussions of the developing designs. The other period is devoted to work by each

group separately. The instructor is available to meet with each group. When needed, background

materials will be presented and discussed during the class time.

Progress Report

Oral presentations are given weekly. These may be by one or more persons in a group at each

session, but every member of the group must participate in a progress report presentation at leastonce during the semester. In addition, each group submits a one-page weekly progress report that

includes plans for the next reporting period and a timeline of tasks.

Final Report

At the end of the semester, each group makes an oral presentation and submits a written report

describing its design. The written report should be a good engineering report of professional

quality. It should be able to be understood by a technically trained reader who is not necessarilyfamiliar with the particular subject matter, and also useful to a reader who is interested in

continuing the design.

In addition to the group report, each student submits a short individual report describing thatstudent's contribution to the design and assessing how that work fits into the design activities of

the group.

Grading

The grade in this course is based primarily (75% of final grade) on the written and oral final

reports, with possible adjustment that may be indicated by the quality of the student's individual

contribution or by the progress reports. In addition, there will be assignments and quizzes (25%of final grade) for this course. Particular questions will be given for showing your understanding

of the problem and formulating the correct solution approach.