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ENGI4417: Aeromechanics 4

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Type Tied
Level 4
Credits 10
Availability Available in 2024/2025
Module Cap None.
Location Durham
Department Engineering

Prerequisites

  • ENGI3291

Corequisites

  • As specified in programme regulations.

Excluded Combinations of Modules

  • As specified in programme regulations.

Aims

  • This module is designed solely for students studying Department of Engineering degree programmes.
  • To provide an overview and describe the characteristics of aircraft aerodynamics.
  • To explain the working principles of aircraft flight.
  • To introduce and familiarise students with analytical methods and simulation tools for aeromechanical analysis.

Content

  • Potential flow
  • Thin aerofoil theory
  • Finite wing theory and induced drag
  • Aircraft aerodynamics
  • Steady flight
  • Non-steady flight (take-off, landing, stability)

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • A fundamental understanding of the flow around aerofoils, including the concept of circulation.
  • An understanding of the mechanism for the creation of induced drag and decreased lift for finite wings through the formation of trailing vortices.
  • The student will be conversant with the effects of wing sweep, dihedral, twist and planform shape and will be familiar with standard aircraft control surfaces.

Subject-specific Skills:

  • An awareness of current technology, analysis methods and industrial practises along with the ability to apply those methods in novel situations.
  • An in-depth knowledge and understanding of specialised and advanced technical and professional skills, an ability to perform critical assessment and review and an ability to communicate the results of their own work effectively.
  • Students will be able to perform key flight performance calculations.

Key Skills:

  • Capacity for independent self-learning within the bounds of professional practice.
  • Specialised numerical skills appropriate to an engineer.
  • Mathematics relevant to the application of advanced engineering concepts.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • The module content is delivered in lectures and is reinforced by problem sheets, equipping students with the required problem solving capability.
  • Students are able to make use of staff 'Tutorial Hours' to discuss any aspect of the module with teaching staff on a one-to-one basis. These are sign up sessions available for up to one hour per week per lecture course.
  • Written timed examinations are appropriate because of the wide range of analytical, in-depth material covered in this module and allow students to demonstrate the ability to solve advanced problems independently.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Lectures20Typicaly 1 per week1 Hour20 
Tutorial HoursAs requiredWeekly sign-up sessionsUp to 1 Hour10 
Preparation and Reading70 
Total100 

Summative Assessment

Component: ExaminationComponent Weighting: 100%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Written Examination2 hours100No

Formative Assessment

N/A

More information

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