Aerospace Engineering (AE)

The terms indicated are expected but are not guaranteed. For the courses offered during any given term, consult the Schedule of Classes.

105 Introduction to Aerospace Engineering (4, Fa) Gateway to the Aerospace Engineering major. Introduction to flight vehicle performance and propulsion. Elements of the physics of gases. Laboratory: computers and graphics; model rocket and glider test flights.

150L Introduction to Aerospace Engineering Analysis (4, Sp) Organization of problems for computational solution; flow charts, computer programming, simultaneous linear equations, numerical methods for factoring polynomials and evaluating integrals; computer graphics; related subjects. Corequisite: MATH 125.

200 Communications Tools for Engineers I (1, Sp) Elements of scientific and technical writing and speaking. An integrated approach to mastering communications in seminars and written reports. Continued in Junior year. Concurrent enrollment: AE 205.

205 Basic Flight Mechanics (4, Sp) Performance of flight vehicles; maximum speed, rate-of-climb, range, and endurance; basic stability and control, weight, and balance; computer exercises. Recommended preparation: AE 150L and CE 205.

300 Communications Tools for Engineers II (1, Fa) Continuation of AE 200. Prerequisite: AE 200; corequisite: AE 341aL.

309 Dynamics of Fluids (4) Fluid statics; conservation of mass, momentum, and energy in integral and differential form; applications. Laminar and turbulent pipe flow; compressible flow; potential flow over bodies. Corequisite: MATH 245; recommended preparation: CE 325 and ME 310.

341abL Mechoptronics Laboratory I and II (3-3, FaSp) A coordinated laboratory and lecture sequence on aeromechanical instrumentation and device control stressing the symbiotic integration of mechanical, optical and electronic components. Prerequisite: PHYS 152L, MATH 126.

353 Aerospace Structures I (3, Fa) Shear and bending in symmetrical and unsymmetrical sections; torsion, column, and thin sheet analysis and design, including plastic failures and open section crippling. Prerequisite: CE 225.

380 Elements of Astronautics and Space Science (3, Sp) Sun and solar system. Spacecraft mission design; orbital maneuvers. Plasma; electromagnetic radiation. Solar wind; magnetospheres; ionospheres; magnetic storms; auroras. Elements of geophysics. Planets. Space instrumentation. Prerequisite: junior standing; recommended preparation: MATH 125, MATH 126, MATH 226; PHYS 151L, PHYS 152L, PHYS 153L.

390 Special Problems (1-4) Supervised, individual studies. No more than one registration permitted. Enrollment by petition only.

410 Molecular Theory of Gases (3) Molecular structure; intermolecular potentials; molecular processes in gases; molecular interpretation of concepts of classical thermodynamics; radiative transport phenomena in gases. Prerequisite: ME 310.

428 Mechanics of Materials (3) (Enroll in CE 428)

429 Structural Concept Design Project (3) (Enroll in CE 429)

441abL Senior Projects Laboratory (3-3) Individual engineering projects designed and constructed to model and test a physical principle or system. Recommended preparation: AE 341L.

453 Aerospace Structural Design Project (3) Synthesis of aerospace structural systems with prescribed strength and stiffness constraints; project proposals; concept generation and preliminary analysis; evaluation of alternate design approaches; project management; technical presentations. Prerequisite: AE 353.

457 Engineering Fluid Dynamics (3) (Enroll in ME 457)

458 Theory of Structures II (3) (Enroll in CE 458)

460 Aerodynamic Theory (3) Basic relations describing the inviscid flow field about bodies and wings moving at subsonic and supersonic speeds. Prerequisite: AE 309.

461 Flight Mechanics (3, Fa) Applications of basic aerodynamics to aircraft and missile performance, power and thrust, stability and control, compressibility effects. Recommended preparation: AE 309.

465 High-Speed Aerodynamics (3) Transonic and supersonic aerodynamics; application to high-speed airplanes. Prerequisite: 460.

473 Spacecraft Propulsion (3) Introduction to rocket engineering. Space missions and thrust requirements. Compressible gas dynamics. Propellant chemistry and thermodynamics. Liquid- and solid-fueled rockets. Nuclear and electric propulsion. Prerequisite: ME 310 and AE 309.

477 Solar System Exploration (3, Fa) Overview of current knowledge of solar system heliosphere, with emphasis on atmospheric and magnetospheric structure, including experimental methods of observation. Prerequisite: MATH 245.

481 Aircraft Design (3, Sp) Aircraft design and analysis, design requirements and specifications; integration of structure, propulsion, control system, and aerodynamic configuration; performance analysis and prediction. Recommended preparation: AE 205, AE 309, AE 353.

482 Spacecraft Design (4, Sp) Spacecraft mission design, space environment, attitude determination and control, telecommunications, propulsion, structures and mechanisms, thermal control, power systems, launch systems and facilities. Semester design project. Junior or Senior standing in Engineering or Physics.

483 Dynamics and Control in Aerospace Design (3) Generalized coordinates in the dynamic analysis of flexible vehicles; linear control theory as applied to autopilot design. Prerequisite: senior standing.

484 Principles and Techniques of Remote Sensing (3) Remote sensing methods, techniques and accuracies, photographic systems, radar, passive microwave, infrared, visible and ultraviolet imaging, capabilities, limitations of uses. Prerequisite: senior standing in engineering.

485 Molecular Gas Dynamics (3) Physical description of kinetic nature of gas flows; distribution function; introduction to the Boltzmann equation; free-molecule flow; surface and molecular reflection properties; Monte-Carlo flow calculations. Prerequisite: AE 309.

486 Fundamental Processes in High Temperature Gases (3) Fundamental collisional and radiative processes (ionic, atomic, and molecular); basic concepts and principles of microscopic approach to description of physical properties of energetic gas flow. Prerequisite: senior standing.

490x Directed Research (2-8, max 8) Individual research and readings. Not available for graduate credit. Prerequisite: departmental approval.

499 Special Topics (2-4, max 8) Course content to be selected each semester from recent developments in aerospace engineering and related fields.

501 Spacecraft System Design (3) System components; vehicle structure, propulsion systems, flight dynamics, thermal control, power systems, telecommunication. Interfaces and tradeoffs between these components. Testing, system reliability, and integration.

502 Systems for Remote Sensing from Space (3) The operation, accuracy, resolution, figures of merit, and application of instruments which either produce images of ground scenes or probe the atmosphere as viewed primarily from space. Prerequisite: graduate standing in engineering or physics.

503 Elements of Vehicle and Energy Systems Design (3, Irregular) Design synthesis of aero/hydro/mechanical systems; techniques of design; conceptual thinking; problem definition, configurational development, analytic engineering approximation, oral briefings and group problem solving. Graduate standing.

504 Elements of Composite Structure Design (3, Sp) Compliance, strength, endurance properties of advanced composites are developed, including semi-monocoque structure, beams, plates, panels. Applications of theory to optimal design of components and systems. Graduate standing or departmental approval required.

507 Mechanics of Solids I (3) (Enroll in CE 507)

510ab Dynamics of Incompressible Fluids (3-3, FaSp) A unified discussion of low-speed fluid mechanics including exact solutions; approximation techniques for low and high Reynolds numbers; inviscid flows; surface waves; dynamic stability; turbulence.

511 Compressible Gas Dynamics (3, Sp) Thermodynamics, kinetic theory, compressible flow equations, shock and expansion waves, similarity, shock-expansion techniques and linearized flow applied to bodies, characteristics, theory of boundary layers.

512 Aerodynamics of Wings and Bodies (3, Fa) Formulation of linearized theories for evaluating forces and moments on flight geometrics in subsonic and supersonic flow.

516ab Flight Vehicle Stability and Control (3-3) Response of flight to linear, nonlinear, and randomly defined disturbances. Generation and measurement of error signals in navigational systems. Stability and control techniques. Recommended preparation: AE 461.

520ab Physical Gas Dynamics (3-3, FaSp) a: Molecular structure; radiative processes; microscopic description of gas phenomena; translational, rotational, vibrational, and electronic freedom degrees; particle energy distributions; microscopic representation of thermodynamic functions. Prerequisite: graduate standing or departmental approval. b: Kinetic concepts in gas physics; thermal non-equilibrium; intermolecular potentials; transport of radiation and particles in high-temperature gas; dissociation and ionization equilibrium; energy relaxation. Prerequisite: AE 520a.

525ab Engineering Analysis (3-3, FaSp) Applied mathematics pertinent to engineering problems: vector analysis; theory of functions of a complex variable; integral transforms; eigenfunction expansions; partial differential equations; special functions.

529 Aircraft Structures Analysis (3, Sp) The direct stiffness (finite element) method for analysis of semimonocoque structures; energy methods; elasticity, plates and shells, vibration, and stability; system identification.

535ab Introduction to Computational Fluid Mechanics (3-3, FaSp) a: Convergence, consistency, stability: finite difference, finite element, and spectral methods; direct and iterative procedures for steady problems; linear diffusion and advection problems; nonlinear advection problems. Prerequisite: AE 525b. b: Generalized curvilinear coordinates; grid generation; numerical techniques for transonic and supersonic inviscid flows; boundary layer flows; reduced Navier-Stokes equations; compressible and incompressible viscous flows. Prerequisite: AE 535a; AE 510a or
AE 511.

542 Theory of Plates (3) (Enroll in CE 542)

543 Stability of Structures (3) (Enroll in CE 543)

546 Basic Aeroelasticity (3, Irregular) Interaction of aerodynamic and structural forces. Static aeroelasticity: life effectiveness, divergence, reversal. Vibration and flutter: eigenvalues, introduction to unsteady aerodynamics. Computers: influence coefficient, modal solutions.

547 Advanced Aeroelasticity (3, Irregular) Transient, frequency, and random response: dynamic loads, atmospheric turbulence, numerical analysis, power spectral analysis; servo system interaction; unsteady compressible potential theory. Prerequisite: AE 546.

549ab Systems Architecting (3-3) a: Introduction to systems architecting in aerospace, electrical, computer, and manufacturing systems emphasizing the conceptual and acceptance phases and using heuristics; b: major research project. Prerequisite: B.S. degree in a related field of engineering; a before b.

550ab Seminar in Aerospace Engineering (1-1, FaSp) Recent developments and research in aerospace engineering and related fields. Oral and written reports. Graded CR/NC. Prerequisite: graduate standing.

556 Systems Architecture Design Experience (3, Sp) This course gives the student a design experience which mirrors the activities of a systems architect during the architecturing process. Interdisciplinary skills are emphasized. Prerequisite: AE 549a.

560ab Current Topics in Aerodynamics (3-3) Selected material of current engineering interest in aerospace engineering and related fields.

564 Computational Techniques in Rarefied Gas Dynamics (3, Irregular) Particle-based computational simulation methods for rarefied, high-speed flows. Molecular collision kinetics. Monte Carlo direct simulation and related techniques. Recommended preparation: AE 520a and skill in FORTRAN programming.

565 Theoretical and Computational Hypersonic Aerodynamics (3, Irregular) Introduction to concepts and features unique to high-speed flow for sustained atmospheric flight, and to current developments in asymptotic theory and numerical simulation. Recommended preparation: AE 511 or AE 512.

572L Experimental Engineering Projects (3) Experimental methods appropriate to engineering research, emphasizing interdisciplinary investigations. Individual projects.

575 Advanced Engineering Analysis (3) (Enroll in ME 575)

576 Advanced Engineering Analytical Methods (3) (Enroll in ME 576)

580 Orbital Mechanics I (3) Physical principles; two-body and central force motion; trajectory correction maneuvers; position and velocity in conic orbits; Lambert’s problem; celestial mechanics; orbital perturbations.

581 Orbital Mechanics II (3, Fa) Theory of perturbations of orbits; numerical methods in orbital mechanics; satellite dynamics; averaging methods; resonance; mission analysis. Prerequisite: AE 580.

583 Spacecraft Attitude Dynamics (3) Dynamics of systems of particles and rigid bodies; spacecraft attitude systems; attitude maneuvers (spin, precession, nutation, etc.); attitude stabilization and attitude determination; simulation methods.

585 Space Environments and Spacecraft Interactions (3) Space environments and interactions with space systems. Vacuum, neutral and ionized species, plasma, radiation, micrometeoroids. Phenomena important for spacecraft operations.

586 Partially Ionized Plasmas (3) Review of theoretical aspects and applications of laboratory and space plasmas (ionized gases) in non-equilibrium (transport of particles and radiation plasmas in fields, etc.). Recommended preparation: AE 486.

587 Gas-Surface Processes (3, Sp) Examination of the basic physical chemistry of the interaction of photons and low density gas phase particles with solid state materials. Recommended preparation: AE 585, AE 486.

590 Directed Research (1-12) Research leading to the master’s degree. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department. Graded CR/NC.

594abz Master’s Thesis (2-2-0) Credit on acceptance of thesis. Graded IP/CR/NC.

599 Special Topics (2-4, max 9) Course content will be selected each semester to reflect current trends and developments in the field of aerospace engineering.

620 Aero and Hydrodynamic Wave Theory (3) Linear and nonlinear wave motion in fluids: group velocity, dispersion, wave action, wave patterns, evolution equations, solitons and solitary waves, resonance phenomena. Recommended preparation: AE 525b and CE 309.

621 Stability of Fluids (3) Linear and nonlinear stability analysis applied to free shear layers, boundary layers and jets; Rayleigh-Benard convective instabilities and centrifugal instability of rotating flows. Recommended preparation: AE 510b.

623 Dynamics of Stratified and Rotating Flows (3) Fluid motions in which density gradients and/or rotation are important, including internal wave motions with rotation, flow past obstacles, viscous effects, singular perturbations. Recommended preparation: AE 510b.

624 The Fluid Dynamics of Natural Phenomena (3) Application of the basic concepts of rotating, stratified fluid motion to problems in meteorology, oceanography, geophysics and astrophysics.

626 Singular Perturbation Methods (3) Asymptotic series, W.K.B. approximation, method of steepest descent, stationary phase; matched asymptotic expansions and method of multiple scales applied to ordinary and partial differential equations. Recommended preparation: AE 525b.

630 Transition to Chaos in Dynamical Systems (3) Bifurcation theory and universal routes to chaos in deterministic systems; application to maps and differential flows; characterization of strange attractors. Recommended preparation: AE 525b.

640 Advanced Theory of Elasticity (3) (Enroll in CE 640)

651 Statistical Theories of Turbulence (3) Stationary stochastic processes. Isotropic turbulence; governing equations for the velocity correlation and spectrum functions. Turbulent diffusion. Scalar fluctuations in a turbulent field. Recommended preparation: AE 510b.

652 Turbulent Shear Flows (3) Free shear layers. Turbulent flows in pipes and channels. Turbulent boundary layers. Effects of compressibility. Sound radiation by turbulence. Recommended preparation: AE 510b.

690 Directed Research (1-4, max 8) Laboratory study of specific problems by candidates for the degree Engineer in Aerospace Engineering. Graded CR/NC.

694abz Thesis (2-2-0) Required for the degree Engineer in Aerospace Engineering. Credit on acceptance of thesis. Graded IP/CR/NC.

790 Research (1-12) Research leading to the doctorate. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department. Graded CR/NC.

794abcdz Doctoral Dissertation (2-2-2-2-0) Credit on acceptance of dissertation. Graded IP/CR/NC.