Module descriptors - Advanced Aeronautical Engineering
The module descriptors for this programme can be found below.
Modules shown are for the current academic year and are subject to change depending on your year of entry.
Please note that the curriculum of this programme is currently being reviewed as part of a College-wide process to introduce a standardised modular structure. As a result, the content and assessment structures of this course may change for your year of entry. We therefore recommend that you check this course page before finalising your application and after submitting it as we will aim to update this page as soon as any changes are ratified by the College.
Find out more about the limited circumstances in which we may need to make changes to or in relation to our courses, the type of changes we may make and how we will tell you about changes we have made.
Applied Aerodynamics
Module aims
The course presents an advanced description of the aerodynamics of wings and aerofoil sections. Methods for the analysis and prediction of 2-D as well as 3-D flows over aerofoils and wings are covered, together with an introduction to procedures for quantitative design. The notable features of wing and aerofoil aerodynamics are outlined, including transition and the analysis of viscous flows, and the effects of structural flexibility. Basic methods for aerofoil and wing design are introduced for low- and high-speed compressible regimes.
Learning outcomes
At completion of the course, students should be able to: 1. Determine the basic principles for the analysis and design of 2D aerofoils and 3D wings, their limitations and range of applicability. 2. Critically evaluate the importance of viscous and compressibility effects on the aerodynamic perfromance characteristics. 3. Infer suitable features of an airfoil section or wing that might be employed to achieve a given design requirement, or to improve an existing design. 4. Apply a coupled viscous-inviscid solution program to analyse the viscous flow past an aerofoil, deciding appropriate parameters to model transition, and assembling the likely validity of the solution. AHEP Learning Outcomes: SM7M, SM8M, EA6m, EA5m, D9M, EL11M, P10m, G1
Module syllabus
Standard atmosphere and fundamental dimensionless quantities. Aerofoil sections: Geometry and aerodynamic behaviour for subsonic, transonic and supersonic flows. VII calculation methods: hierarchy of fluid model equations, inviscid models and panel methods, boundary-layer equations, VII methods for interaction between viscous and inviscid models, stability and transition, Mark Drela's XFOIL code. High-lift devices for take-off and landing. Introduction to the ESDU aeronautical engineering datasheets. Supercritical aerofoil sections in transonic flow. Aerofoils for supersonic flow. Wings: Geometry. Aerodynamic behaviour. Design for low-speed flight. Preliminary design: the equivalent wing concept. Analysis of 3-D subsonic flows past wings: lifting-line theory, vortex-lattice and panel methods, CFD codes. Transonic wing design: planform area, swept wings and area rule. Aerodynamic crutches: leading edge extensions, vortilons, wing fences, vane vortex generators, stall strips, winglets. Advanced topics: introduction to 2D aeroelasticity; modelling flapping wings and unsteady flows around aerofoils. Design Exercise: Students apply the computer code XFOIL (1 class session, 1 session by themselves) to aerofoil design.
Pre-requisites
None
Teaching methods
The content of the module is delivered via a combination of slides, whiteboard and visualizer.Learning will be reinforced through tutorial question sheets and computer-based exercises (XFOIL computer lab session), featuring analytical/modelling tasks representative of those carried out by practising engineers.
Assessments
Exam - Written examination (90%)
Assignment (10%)