Aerospace & Aerothermal Engineering - Teaching

Aerospace and Aerothermal Engineering is an interdisciplinary blend of subjects ranging from fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, structures, instrumentation, control, electronics and design to manufacturing. In essence, Aerospace Engineering is concerned with flight and Aerothermal Engineering with the associated propulsion systems.

In the past, development in these fields has been driven by technological issues. In the future, environmental concerns, minimising noise and pollution, and relentless pressure on design and manufacturing turnaround time will force novel solutions and paradigm shifts.

A good understanding of fluid mechanics is essential in both fields. A secure grasp of the fundamentals equips students with the ability and confidence to innovate and develop novel solutions to familiar problems and to understand and maybe manage wholly new issues.

Third Year

The necessary teaching is introduced as a series of core modules, which should be combined with an appropriate selection of companion modules, as described later.

The core modules are:

Number and title of module
3A1		Fluid mechanics I (double module)
3A3		Fluid mechanics II (double module)
3A5		Thermodynamics and power generation
3A6		Heat and mass transfer

A double module (3A1) on fluid mechanics introduces the dynamics of incompressible fluid flow and is an essential foundation course. High speed flows demand an understanding of compressibility effects and these are discussed in a further double module (3A3). 3A5 focuses on the applications of thermodynamics to power generation with emphasis on gas and steam turbine plant, and fuel cells. 3A6 addresses the important topics of heat transfer and mass transfer, with applications.

Students intending to qualify in this Engineering Area in the third year must include one of the following combinations in their selection of modules:

Either all third year core modules,

or 3A1 + 3A3 + two companion modules (see below).

Companion modules

The interdisciplinary nature of the subject is reflected in the diversity of the recommended companion modules (see tables below) drawn from across the spectrum of the department's teaching, covering a range from electronics and signal processing to structural materials and design. This diversity increases in the fourth year.

Third year companion modules for Aerospace and Aerothermal engineering:

Number and title of module
3B1		Radio frequency electronics
3B2		Integrated digital electronics
3C1		Materials processing and design
3C5		Dynamics
3C6		Vibration
3C7		Mechanics of solids
3C9		Fracture mechanics of materials and structures
3D3		Structural materials and design
3D4		Structural analysis and stability
3D7		Finite element methods
3F1		Signals and systems
3F2		Systems and control
3M1		Mathematical methods

Area activity: Wind tunnel tests, or performance and characteristics of IC engines.

Fourth Year

Students intending to qualify in this Engineering Area in the fourth year must include one of the following combinations in their selection of modules:

Either four fourth year core modules,

or three fourth year core modules + two fourth year companion modules (see below)

The core modules are:

Number and title of module
4A2		Computational fluid dynamics
4A3		Turbomachinery I
4A4		Aircraft stability and control
4A7		Aerodynamics
4A9		Molecular thermodynamics
4A10		Flow instability
4A11		Turbomachinery II
4A12		Turbulence and vortex dynamics
4A15		Aeroacoustics

Fourth year companion modules for Aerospace and Aerothermal engineering:

Number and title of module
4B13		Electronic sensors and instrumentation
4C2		Designing with composites
4C4		Design methods
4C5		Design case studies
4C6		Advanced linear vibration
4C7		Random and non-linear vibrations
4C9		Continuum mechanics
4C15		MEMS: design
4F1		Control system design
4F2		Robust and non-linear systems and control
4F3		Optimal and predictive control