AME 40461: Flight Mechanics and Introduction to Design

CATALOG DATA:
Senior level (capstone) aerospace engineering course dealing with the conceptual design of aircraft. The approach is to demonstrate how theoretical aspects, drawn from topics on airplaine aerodynamics, aircraft structures, stability and control, propulsion, and compressible flow can be applied to produce a new conceptual aircraft design. Each student develops a complete conceptual design for a full scale aircraft starting with a design proposal.

Prerequisites: AME 30341, AME 30331, AME 30332,

TEXTBOOK:
Corke, T.C., Design of Aircraft, Printice-Hall, 2002

COURSE OBJECTIVES :
This course is designed to teach the students the steps involved in developing the conceptual design of a new aircraft. In this they learn to develop a design proposal that establishes the mission and principle "design drivers". These become the basis for both seeking an optimum, as well as trading different aspects of performance that connot simultaneously be achieved. Such trades are an important concept learned in this course.

TOPICS COVERED:
The conceptual design involves 13 steps that are covered during the semester. These include:

    1. Design proposal
    2. Preliminary estimate of the take-off weight
    3. Wing loading selection
    4. Main wind design
    5. Fuselage design
    6. Horizontal and vertical tail design
    7. Engine selection
    8. Take-off and landing analysis
    9. Enhanced lift design
    10. Structure design and material selection
    11. Refined weight estimate and static stability and control
    12. Cost estimate
    13. Design summary and trade study
 

SCHEDULE:
The course meets 2 times a week for 75 minutes each meeting

CONTRIBUTION TO PROFESSINAL COMPONENT:
The course represents a balance between engineering science and design, with approximately even distribution. The students perform weekly oral and written presentations of each step of the design where they need to quantify their results and justify choices they ahve made in seeking an optimum based on their design drivers.

CONTRIBUTION TO PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES AND ASSESSMENT:
The course uses lectures, homework and the semester-long conceptual designs to teach the studetns on the application of aircraft theory that includeds aerodynamics, propulsion, and structures towards a real-life design. Students demonstrate their knowledge of these topics through weekly presentations and reports, and homework assignments. The homework assignment are take from the text book and are selected to demonstrate the interdependence between different performance objectives corresponding to each of the 13 design elements covered during the semester. Each student's ability is assessed from their weekly presentations and written design summaries, from the homework assignments, a final comprehensive design report, and a final exam given at the end of the semester that tests their understanding of the design concepts and their appreciation of the interdependene of different aircraft components on the overall design. The weekly reports and homework are graded by the instructor. Feedback is provided after each design step, and the studnets must address any concerns at each step before moving to the next step in the design. The final report and final exam are also graded by the instructor. These are used to assess if the outcomes have been achieved and if changes are needed in the following year.

Outcome Criteria Topic Students' Previous Knowlege Direct Measures of Outcome
a,e Develop conceptual design based on prescribed mission requirements Airplance aerodynamics, propulsion and structures Weekly presentations and reports, homeworks, quizzes and final report and exam
k,c,g,j Develop conceptual design including analysis and engineering drawings Aerospace engineering , core course material Weekly presntations and reports, final report and exam

 

Prepared by: Thomas C. Corke, September 11, 2006

Direct comments, questions, and corrections to amedept@nd.edu