AME 40462: Aerospace Design
CATALOG DATA:
Team design project with application to an aerospace system development. Includes topics in all associated technologies, conceptual and detailed design methodologies, and standards. Groups of students design, build and performance flight test a remote piloted aircraft that is based on achieving a specific mission.Prerequisites: AME 30341, AME 30331, AME 30332, AME 40431, AME 40461
TEXTBOOK:
Corke, T.C., Design of Aircraft, Prentice-Hall, 2002COURSE OBJECTIVES :
The object of this course is to design, build and performance flight test a remote piloted aircraft. For this, the course is approximately divided into three parts, of approximately 4-5 weeks each. The first part involves a conceptual design. This makes use of all the material and design spread sheets used in AME 40461 as well as any other new material that is deemed necessary for the design. The second part of the course involves construction of the aircraft. This starts with the generation of a full set of detailed drawings. All of the drawings of components are done on CAD systems. The manufacture of intricate partes is based on these CAD drawings and done on numerical controlled(NC) milling machines in the design lab. The third part of the course involves flight tests. The flight tests are designed to evaluate the predicted flight characteristics, and how closely the aircraft meets mission requirements. The mission requirements are defined by the instructor. These change each year. The design groups define "design drivers" based on their assessment of the mission requirements.TOPICS COVERED:
The first third of the course covers the 13 steps to a conceptual aircraft design previously taught in AME 40461. The next third of the course covers the development of a detailed design including material selection, parts lists, manufacturing techniques, and cost and time estimation. The last third of the course involves analysis of the flight data to assess the performance. This includes error estimation.SCHEDULE:
The course meets 2 times a week for 90 minutes.CONTRIBUTION TO PROFESSIONAL COMPONENT:
The course stresses two important concepts: 1) the ability to work as a team, and 2) a systems approach that weighs all aspects of design, material selection, manufacturing, fabrication, and cost to produce a real flight vehicle in 14 weeks.CONTRIBUTION TO PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES AND ASSESSMENT:
The purpose of the course is to apply the knowledge gained in different theory courses in aerospace engineering into a the design and fabrication of a REAL flight vehicle. Secondly, to test the ability of design concepts to predict the real performance outcomes.The class is divided into design groups. The groups are formed by the Instructor. This is done with the aid of information obtained from a form provided to the students. The goal is to have groups of equal ability, that also reflect the class make-up. After the groups are formed, each group selects a “Group Leader”. The group leader provides a weekly summary (by email) of the groups progress, direction, and any problems. Each member of each group can also assess the group and their individual efforts at the end of each milestone (conceptual design, detailed design, first flight test).
The first assessment comes through analysis of a comprehensive report and oral presentation on each groups conceptual design. This step is very important because part of the grade for the course is derived by how closely the design predicts the actual performance of the aircraft during flight tests. Feedback is provided to the student groups by the instructor. The groups cannot begin developing the detailed design until all issues in the conceptual design are resolved.
The second assessment comes through analysis of the detailed design. This is done through examination of a detailed set of plans that include engineering 3-view drawings of all of the components, an assembly drawing that includes all of the component placement and center of gravity location, flight control systems electronic wiring, assembly instructions, and an itemized list of materials and parts with vendor stock numbers. Again feedback is provided to the student groups by the instructor and they cannot begin on fabrication until all issues have been resolved.
Frequent feedback is provided during parts fabrication and construction. This follows a rigorous time plan in order to provide sufficient time for flight testing. The flight tests are designed to evaluate the predicted flight characteristics. The groups instruct the test pilot on how the flights are to be conducted.
The flight data is analyzed by the respective groups. This is presented in order to evaluate the performance and compare it to the predictions made in the conceptual design. The complete design and flight test data are presented in a comprehensive final presentation and report by each group. An external review panel made up of members from Industry and Government Laboratories is present for the final presentations. The external panel completes a questioner on each of the groups. This provides an external assessment that is used in evaluating the course outcomes and if changes are needed in the following year.
Outcome Criteria Topic Student's Previous Knowlege Direct Mesaures of Outcome a,e Apply basic knowledge of aircraft design, formulate design drivers to meet mission requirements Conceptual design of aircraft Conceptual design report, Detailed design report, final fabrication. final report k,c,d,g Work in group on design, fabrication, and flight performance analysis Conceptual design, Aeroposace Engineering courses Group reports
Prepared by: Thomas C. Corke, September 10, 2006
Direct comments, questions, and corrections to amedept@nd.edu