Undergraduate Courses
Aerospace Engineering (AERO)
101. Principles of Aerospace Engineering. (1-0). Credit 1. I, II
Overview of aerospace engineering and the aerospace industry, including requirements and assignments of an aerospace engineer, vehicle configurations and missions, aerodynamics, structures and materials, dynamics and control, simulation and testing, and aerospace engineering in the future. Pre-requisites: ENGR 111, MATH 151, PHYS 218, or registration therein. (Optional Freshman Class)
201. Introduction to Aerospace Engineering. (3-0). Credit 3. I, II
Basic aerodynamic phenomena and simplified theory; elementary aerospace vehicle performance and design. Prerequisites: Admission to upper division degree sequence in aerospace engineering; AERO 211 and MATH 251 or registration therein.
211. Aerospace Engineering Mechanics. (2-2). Credit 3. I, II
Fundamentals of Newtonian mechanics; static equilibrium of particles, system of particles and rigid bodies; free body diagrams; rectilinear and curvilinear motion of particles; linear momentum; angular momentum; friction; plane motion of rigid bodies; beams and trusses. Prerequisites: Admission to upper division degree sequence in aerospace engineering; MATH 251 or registration therein.
212. Thermodynamics for Aerospace Engineers. (2-2). Credit 3. I, II
Study of thermodynamic properties and processes, heat and work, first and second laws of thermodynamics, power and refrigeration ideal cycles, psychrometrics. Prerequisite: Admission to upper division degree sequence in aerospace engineering; MATH 308 or registration therein.
213. Material Science for Engineers. (2-2). Credit 3. I, II
Study of the interrelations in engineering materials and their microstructure; study of structural, electrical, optical, thermal properties; study of structure-property relationships in terms of the engineering of materials. Prerequisites: Admission to upper division degree sequence in aerospace engineering; AERO 211 and MATH 251 or registration therein.
214. Aerospace Engineering Principles of Continuum Mechanics. (2-2). Credit 3. I, II
Fundamental concepts and illustrative examples of conservation laws forming the framework upon which our description of engineering mechanics of deformable bodies is based; complex examination of the manner in which these principles are applied to selected traditional areas of engineering and their associated applications. Prerequisites: AERO 211; MATH 308 or registration therein.
220. Introduction to Aerospace Engineering Computation. (1-2). Credit 2. I
Introduction to the basic skills required for developing computer programs that solve aerospace engineering problems. The engineering and math background from previous and concurrent courses will serve as the theoretical basis and motivation for programming assignments. An integrated development environment will be used for code writing, compilation, debugging, and organization. Prerequisites: Admission to upper division degree sequence in aerospace engineering; AERO 211 or registration therein. (Course required for Catalog 131 and later)
301. Theoretical Aerodynamics. (3-0). Credit 3. I, II
Fundamentals of incompressible flow, conservation principles, continuity, momentum, rotationality, circulation, lift, drag, potential flow, thin airfoil theory, panel methods, airfoil design, high lift devices, finite wing theory, vortex lattice methods, and wing design. Prerequisites: AERO 320 or registration therein; AERO 201; MATH 308.
302. Aerospace Engineering Laboratory I. (1-3). Credit 2. I, II
Demonstrates and complements material in courses on aerodynamics, structures and dynamics; basic testing techniques and use of computers. Prerequisite: AERO 301 or registration therein.
303. High Speed Aerodynamics. (3-0). Credit 3. I, II
Fundamentals of compressible flow, acoustic waves, shock and expansion waves, shock-expansion theory, supersonic airfoil design, small perturbation theory, conical flow theory, supersonic wing panel methods, supersonic wing design, similarity theory, cone flow, unsteady waves, and theory of characteristics. Pre-requisites: AERO 212, 301.
304. Structural Analysis I. (4-0). Credit 4. I, II
Structural design considerations; mechanics of structures; introduction to elasticity; constitution of materials; analysis of typical aerospace structures in bending, extension, torsion and shear. Prerequisites: AERO 320 or registration therein; AERO 213, 214; MATH 308.
305. Aerospace Engineering Laboratory II. (1-3). Credit 2. I, II
Demonstrates and complements material on aircraft stability and control and propulsion as well as aerodynamics and structures. Prerequisites: AERO 304, 310; ECEN 215.
306. Structural Analysis II. (3-0). Credit 3. I, II
Work and energy principles; analysis of indeterminate structures by classical virtual work and finite elements; introduction to elastic stability of columns; application of energy methods to determine stresses, strains and displacements in typical aerospace structures; design considerations in aerospace structures. Prerequisite: AERO 304.
310. Aerospace Dynamics. (3-0). Credit 3. I, II
Linear theory of free and forced vibrations and dynamic response of single and multi-degree of freedom systems; frequency response of first and second order systems with instrumentation applications. Prerequisites: AERO 320 or registration therein; AERO 214; MATH 308.
320. Numerical Methods. (2-3). Credit 3. I, II,
S Numerical and analytical methods of solving engineering problems involving curve fitting; interpolation and extrapolation; difference operators and differentiation; integration; solutions to linear and non-linear equations and differential equations with engineering applications. Prerequisites: MATH 308 or registration therein; AERO 220 for catalog 131 and later.
351. Aerothermodynamics and Propulsion. (3-0). Credit 3. I, II
Aerothermodynamics of gases; laws of thermodynamics; equilibrium conditions; mixtures of gases; combustion and thermochemistry; compressible internal flows with friction, heat transfer and shock; turbojet cycle analysis and performance; chemical rockets. Prerequisite: AERO 303 or registration therein.
401. Aerospace Vehicle Design I. (2-3). Credit 3. I, II
Aerodynamic design, specification, arrangement, performance analysis, weight and balance, stability. Prerequisites: AERO 303, 306, 351, 421.
402. Aerospace Vehicle Design II. (0-6). Credit 2. I, II
Continuation of AERO 401. System optimization by examination and analysis of necessary trade-offs. Prerequisite: AERO 401.
*404. Mechanics of Advanced Aerospace Structures. (3-0). Credit 3. I
Advanced analysis techniques for aerospace structures; material anisotropy, plasticity, fatigue and fracture; laminated materials; solution of plane elasticity, plate and multi-component structural con-figurations; buckling of beams and plates; application of finite element analysis. Prerequisite: AERO 306.
**405. Aerospace Structural Design. (3-0). Credit 3. II
Overall structural integrity of complete aerospace systems; structures subjected to critical loads; design considerations in aerospace structures. Prerequisite: AERO 306.
*406. Polymer Nanocomposites and their Applications. (3-0). Credit 3.
Recent advances and methodologies in processing and characterization of nanostructured polymers and nanocomposites, as well as their commercial applications; investigate polymers filled with nanometer-size inclusions, including nanoparticles, nanotubes, nanofibers, and nanoclays; macroscale, microscale and nanoscale characterizations investigated in relation to properties of interest. Prerequisites: Senior classification or approval of the instructor; junior or senior classification.
**417. Aerospace Propulsion. (3-0). Credit 3. I
Air breathing propulsion; design and analysis of inlets, compressors, combustors, turbines and nozzles; application to aeronautical and ground transportation. Prerequisite: AERO 351.
*419. Chemical Rocket Propulsion. (3-0). Credit 3. II
Nozzles and heat transfer in rockets, liquid and solid propellant systems; combustion and combustion stability; flight performance including trajectories, multi-staging and exchange rate curves; rocket testing. Prerequisite: AERO 351.
*420. Aeroelasticity. (3-0). Credit 3. II
Classical analysis of fundamental aeroelastic phenomena with application to aerospace vehicles; flutter, divergence, control effectiveness. Prerequisites: AERO 303, 306, 310.
421. Dynamics of Aerospace Vehicles. (3-0). Credit 3. I, II
Aircraft static stability and control; longitudinal and lateral dynamic
stability; general equations of motion; stability derivatives; response to control inputs. Prerequisite: AERO 301, 310.
*422. Active Controls for Aerospace Vehicles. (3-0). Credit 3. I
Introduction to the Theory of Automatic Control specifically applied to aerospace vehicles; techniques for analysis and synthesis of linear control systems, stability criteria, systems response and performance criteria; design studies of active controls to improve aerospace vehicle performance. Prerequisite: AERO 421.
423. Space Technology I. (3-0). Credit 3. I
Rocket fundamentals; trajectories including aerodynamics, gravity turn and trajectory optimization, orbital mechanics, orbit lifetimes, three-body problem, orbit perturbations. Prerequisite: AERO 421.
*424. Spacecraft Attitude Dynamics and Control. (3-0). Credit 3.
Introduces students to fundamental concepts of satellite attitude dynamics and control; includes derivations of environmental disturbances due to gravity gradient, aerodynamic, and solar radiation pressure; includes treatments of attitude control subsystems, such as thrusters, reaction wheels, CMGs, and magnetic torquers, and their designs. Prerequisites: AERO 421, 423, or approval of instructor.
*425. Flight Test Engineering. (2-3). Credit 3. II
Application of performance and stability and control theory to flight test measurements; standard atmosphere and airspeed equations for pitot-static system calibrations; flight test methods for evaluating performance, stability and control, and stall-spin characteristics; laboratory practice in planning and conducting small flight test project. Prerequisites: AERO 421 and senior classification.
**426. Space System Design. (3-0). Credit 3.
Introduces prevailing practices and processes used in modern space system design; applies knowledge in component engineering disciplines to a design challenge of interest to NASA or DoD; utilizes instruction in systematic methods of design and on dynamics of teamwork; when possible concludes with detailed design using an engineering design facility. Prerequisites: AERO 306, 351, 421.
*428. Electromagnetic Sensing for Space-Borne Imaging. (3-0). Credit 3.
Study IR and Visible range imaging systems to obtain high resolution imaging of objects from space. This area has numerous applications and areas of advanced development. Following instruction in needed background on optics, telescopes, and interferometry, perform preliminary design of imaging system with a different imaging design offered each year. Prerequisites: AERO 306, 351, 421.
*430. Numerical Simulation. (3-0). Credit 3. II
Numerical and analytical simulation of physical problems in science and engineering using applied methods; developing and using numerical techniques for physical problems described by nonlinear algebraic equations, ordinary and partial differential equations. Prerequisite: AERO 320.
*435. Aerothermochemistry. (3-0). Credit 3. I
Composition of chemically reacting gases (air and propellant); thermodynamic functions based on classical and quantum mechanical theories; calculation of gas temperatures; equilibrium, frozen and non-equilibrium flows through nozzles and shock waves. Prerequisite: AERO 303.
*440. Cockpit Systems and Displays. (3-0). Credit 3. I
Design, development, and implementation of cockpit systems and multi-function displays; cockpit system requirements and specifications; human-machine interfaces, Flight Management Systems, navigation and guidance systems; 3-D real-time displays of weather, traffic, and terrain; characteristics and missions of air vehicles; project design and cost analysis. Prerequisite: AERO 421 or junior or senior classification in computer science.
*445. Vehicle Management Systems. (3-0). Credit 3. I
Introduction to vehicle management systems for manned and unmanned air and space vehicles; system centric concepts, requirements definition, specifications, and architectures; reliability analysis, health monitoring, and mission management; SISO digital design of integrated flight control, propulsion control and structural control; introduction to vehicle autonomy; design and analysis methods, industrial examples. Prerequisites: AERO 422; junior or senior classification.
452. Heat Transfer and Viscous Flows. (3-0). Credit 3. I, II
Navier-Stokes and boundary layer equations; exact and approximate solutions; laminar boundary layers; origin of turbulence; transition; turbulent boundary layers; viscous airfoil design; one and two dimensional heat transfer; methods for steady and transient heat conduction; thermal boundary layers; convection; and radiation. Prerequisite: AERO 351, MATH 308.
**472. Airfoil and Wing Design. (3-0). Credit 3. I
Subsonic airfoil design and analysis, subsonic wing design and analysis, swept and delta wings, vortex lift, transonic flow methods, viscous transonic phenomena, transonic airfoil and wing design, supersonic panel methods, supersonic wing design, optimization. Prerequisite: AERO 303.
485. Directed Studies. Credit 1 to 4 each semester. I, II, S
Special problems in aerospace engineering assigned to individual students or groups. Prerequisites: Senior classification; approval of department head.
489. Special Topics in… Credit 1 to 4. I, II, S
Selected topics in an identified field of aerospace engineering. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor.
491. Research. Credit 1 to 4. I, II
Research conducted under the direction of faculty member in aerospace engineering. May be repeated 3 times for credit. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification and approval of instructor.
The aerospace engineering courses in applied mechanics such as elasticity, plasticity and continuum mechanics are listed under Mechanics and Materials (MEMA) under Interdisciplinary Engineering.
Mechanics and Materials (MEMA)
The Mechanics and Materials course offerings perform three major functions. First, and most importantly, they are interdisciplinary vehicles for staff and students who study and conduct research in those increasingly important problems requiring a blending of mechanics and materials. Second, they provide the support base for graduate students to pursue studies in the traditional areas of either applied mechanics or materials science.
467. Finite Element Fundamentals and Engineering Applications. (3-0) Credit 3. I, II.
Introduction to the fundamental theory and concepts of finite element method; review of energy and variational principles; direct approach and energy formulations; truss and beam structural members and planar stress analysis; design considerations; original computer and design projects required. Prerequisites: AERO 306, 320.
* = Technical Elective Only
** = Technical Elective or Design Elective
