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Aerospace and Space Engineering, Design and Project Management

  • Module code: AE5021
  • Year: 2018/9
  • Level: 5
  • Credits: 30
  • Pre-requisites: None
  • Co-requisites: None

Summary

The purpose of this module is to develop your understanding of the fundamentals of aerospace engineering design.  It will provide you with the skills necessary to undertake the group design project.  It is common to both the Aerospace and Astronautics programmes, but some of the detailed design elements will be taught separately and the astronautics students will do a space vehicle related design project.

It also brings together various elements of generic project engineering and management.  Project planning and scheduling is covered in detail, including the use of project management software.  Financial aspects are looked at in respect of discounted cash flow and budgeting, and quality management is introduced.  The module is delivered through lectures, tutorials and design activities, with additional support material available on Blackboard.

Aims

  • To give students a broad understanding of the key design drivers in aerospace vehicle design
  • To ensure students can effectively communicate and evaluate their design ideas
  • To develop students understanding of the principles and techniques of good project management

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

  • Perform fundamental calculations appropriate to the design of aerospace vehicles
  • Examine the trade offs which arise in aerospace vehicle design and make appropriate design decisions
  • Work in and lead a small team.
  • Communicate results of design investigations in design reports
  • Apply project management techniques to simple projects including the use of appropriate software
  • Carry out economic assessments using discounted cash flow methods and calculate project return rates.

Curriculum content

  • Aerospace vehicle conceptual design, specification writing and dealing with external design factors, eg. regulations, sustainability, size requirements, etc.
  • Aerospace structural design, description and calculation of fundamental requirements
  • Aerospace materials, description, use of, design requirements and manufacturing processes and methods
  • In service requirements of aerospace materials
  • Aerospace aerodynamic design, description and calculation of fundamental requirements
  • Aircraft performance requirements
  • Project management techniques, networks, bar charts, critical path, float, resources, and software. 
  • Health and safety directives and regulations, the "six pack". 
  • The concept of risk. 
  • Quality assurance and TQM. 
  • Economic assessment and discounted cash flow. 

Teaching and learning strategy

This module will be delivered through a series of formal lectures that will introduce the concepts and techniques of project management and aircraft design and a series of design activities that will be linked together as part of a design project that will run throughout the module.  The design project will be used as a vehicle to ensure that students get an opportunity to apply the project management techniques they learn in the lectures and also to ensure that they understand the broader requirements of aerospace design.

Breakdown of Teaching and Learning Hours

Definitive UNISTATS Category Indicative Description Hours
Scheduled learning and teaching Formal lectures Tutorials Supported group meetings 40 20 20
Guided independent study Independent group meetings Individual study/design work 40 180
Total (number of credits x 10) 300

Assessment strategy

Summative assessment is through one coursework assignment, one in class test and an end-of-module examination. The summative coursework assignment will be an investigation into the choice of materials for a particular structural application. The in class test will consist of short analytical questions on propulsion. The final examination will be three hours long and will consist of short analytical questions, and some longer analysis.

Formative assessment will be provided through mock class tests and problem sets to enable students to gauge their level of understanding.

Mapping of Learning Outcomes to Assessment Strategy (Indicative)

Learning Outcome Assessment Strategy
1. Perform fundamental calculations appropriate to the design of aerospace vehicles. Class test
2. Examine the trade offs which arise in aerospace vehicle design. Design project
3. Work in and lead a small team. Mini project, design project
4. Communicate results of design investigations in design reports. Mini project, design project
5. Apply project management techniques to simple projects including the use of appropriate software. Design project
6. Carry out economic assessments using discounted cash flow methods and calculate project return rates. Design project

Elements of Assessment

Description of Assessment Definitive UNISTATS Categories Percentage
Mini project Coursework 10%
Class test Written examination 20%
Design project Coursework 70%
Total (to equal 100%) 100%

Achieving a pass

It IS NOT a requirement that any element of assessment is passed separately in order to achieve an overall pass for the module.

Bibliography core texts

Boddy, D. (2010) Management an Introduction (5th Edition), London, Financial Times Press

Worthington I & Britton C, (2009) The Business Environment, (6th Edition), Financial Times Press

Bibliography recommended reading

Roskam., J., Airplane Design", Parts 1 and 2, Roskam Aviation and Engineering Corp.

Stinton, D.The Design of the Aeroplane BSP Professional Books, 1987 ISBN 0-632-01877-1

Raymer, D.P.Aircraft Design: A Conceptual Approach, 4th ed. AIAA Education Series, 2006  ISBN 1-56347-829-3

Brandt, S.A., Stiles, R.J., Bertin, J.J., Whitford, R. Introduction to Aeronautics: A Design Perspective, 2nd ed. AIAA Education Series, 2004  ISBN 1-56347-701-7

McCormick, B.W.Aerodynamics, Aeronautics and Flight Mechanics 2nd ed., Wiley, 1995, ISBN 0-471-57506-2

Shevell, R.S.Fundamentals of Flight, 2nd ed., Prentice Hall, 1989, ISBN 0-13-339060-8

Denis Howe, Aircraft Conceptual Design Synthesis, ISBN-10: 1860583016

Jenkinson, L.R., Simpkin, P & Rhodes, Civil Jet Aircraft Design Aiaa Education Series, ISBN-10: 156347350X

Mike Niu, Airframe Structural Design: Practical Design Information and Data on Aircraft Structures ISBN-10: 9627128090

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