AAE 251: Introduction to Aerospace Design
Course Syllabus - Fall 2012 - 3 credit hours
Instructor Dr. Michael Grant, Assistant Professor
Email: mjgrant@purdue.edu
Oce: ARMS 3212, Phone: 765-494-4054
Oce Hours: MW 2:30-3:30pm or by appointment
Teaching Peter Edelman (pedelman@purdue.edu)
Assistants Oce Hours (in ARMS 3141): M 3:30-5:30pm, W 3:30-5:30pm, Th 12:30-2:30pm
(TAs)
Aaron Rosen (rosen0@purdue.edu)
Oce Hours (in ARMS 3237): T 12:00-2:00pm, W 10:00-12:00pm, F 10:00-12:00pm
Lectures Section 1: MWF 4:30 PM - 5:20 PM, GRIS 180
Section 2: MWF 1:30 PM - 2:20 PM, RHPH 164
Attendance is encouraged. Lectures may cover topics not in the book.
You may not change attended sections without ocial approval.
Course Website Blackboard Learn Course Management System
http://www.itap.purdue.edu/tlt/blackboard/
Electronic material (e.g., assignments) will be made available on the Blackboard
website throughout the semester. Note, Blackboard Vista will NOT be used.
Textbook Required: Anderson, J. D., Introduction to Flight, 7
th
Edition, McGraw-Hill, 2012.
Additional Brandt, S. A., Stiles, R. J., Bertin, J. J., and Whitford, R.,
References Introduction to Aeronautics: A Design Perspective, 2
nd
Edition, AIAA, 2004.
Grades Exams: 35% (3 exams will be given); No nal exam
Homework: 40%
Vehicle of the Week Presentation: 5%
Design Project: 20%
Learning Recognize and distinguish form and function of aerospace vehicles.
Objectives Formulate and apply basic equations of motion for aerospace vehicles.
Analyze basic aerodynamics, propulsion, and performance of atmospheric vehicles.
Analyze basic propulsion and performance of rockets and spacecraft.
Implement analyses in computer programs to produce correct engineering results.
Comprehend and apply multidisciplinary aerospace design.
Craft and deliver eective engineering presentations.
Work in teams to design and synthesize a feasible aerospace system, and describe
its development and capabilities via technical writing.
Topics and The following is a draft set of lecture topics. Content adjustments are expected
Dates during the semester based on schedule progress and the availability of guest
speakers. Expected homework issuance and due dates are noted.
1
Date Topic Homework
08/20 Class introduction, history, design terminology
08/22 Anatomy of aircraft and spacecraft
08/24 Source of aerodynamic forces
08/27 Standard atmosphere
08/29 Aerodynamics
08/31 Aerodynamics HW 1 Assigned
09/03 No class - Labor Day
09/05 Aerodynamics
09/07 Aerodynamics HW 1 Due, HW 2 Assigned
09/10 Aerodynamics
09/12 Aerodynamics
09/14 Aerodynamics HW 2 Due, HW 3 Assigned
09/17 Tour of Purdue airport facilities
09/19 Distribution of design project
09/21 Dr. Jarret Laeur @ 1:30pm in PHYS 112 and @ 4:30pm in GRIS 180 HW 3 Due, HW 4 Assigned
09/24 Equations of motion
09/26 Aircraft performance
09/28 Aircraft performance HW 4 Due
10/01 Aircraft performance
10/03 Exam 1
10/05 Aircraft performance HW 5 Assigned
10/08 No class - October Break
10/10 Aircraft stability
10/12 Aircraft stability HW 5 Due, HW 6 Assigned
10/15 Aircraft propulsion
10/17 Aircraft propulsion
10/19 Vehicle of the Week Presentations HW 6 Due, HW 7 Assigned
10/22 Rocket equation
10/24 Rocket propulsion
10/26 Vehicle of the Week Presentations HW 7 Due
10/29 Rocket staging
10/31 Exam 2
11/02 Orbits HW 8 Assigned
11/05 Orbits
11/07 Orbits
11/09 Vehicle of the Week Presentations HW 8 Due, HW 9 Assigned
11/12 Orbits
11/14 Orbits
11/16 Vehicle of the Week Presentations HW 9 Due, HW 10 Assigned
11/19 Launch sites and ground tracks
11/21 No class - Thanksgiving
11/23 No class - Thanksgiving
11/26 Vehicle of the Week Presentations HW 10 Due
11/28 Exam 3
11/30 Entry
12/03 Entry
12/05 Entry
12/07 Entry
12/08 Group Project Due / Presentations
Vehicle of Week Please see Vehicle of the Week folder on course webpage for explanation.
Presentation
2
Exam Policy There are three examinations: Exam 1 on Wed., Oct. 3, Exam 2 on
Wed., Oct. 31 (tentative), and Exam 3 on Wed, Nov. 28 (tentative).
Exams are closed book/notes unless otherwise specied. There is no
nal exam.
Design Project The course includes a team design project. The project gives students the
opportunity to work in a collaborative environment and apply knowledge
gained to the conceptual design of an aerospace system. Teams of six
students will perform analysis and design to fulll a request for proposal
(RFP) and deliver a technical presentation of the design along with a
written design proposal report. Final presentations for the project will be
given by the teams on Sat., Dec. 8 (the Saturday before Finals Week).
Submissions Please see the Submission Standards document on the course website.
Simply following the standards will improve your grade.
No late submissions will be accepted.
Useful Websites http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/foil3.html
and Simulation http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/ngnsim.html
Tools http://www.desktopaero.com/adw/welcome.html
Conduct 1) Attendance is encouraged. Lectures may cover topics not in the textbook.
2) Active participation in the class is strongly encouraged.
3) Students must adhere to the Purdue Academic Honor Code
http://www.purdue.edu/univregs/studentconduct/index.html
Emergency In the event of a major campus emergency, course requirements, deadlines
Notice and grading percentages are subject to changes that may be necessitated
by a revised semester calendar or other circumstances beyond the
instructors control. Here are ways to get information about changes in
this course (all listed above): a) course website, b) instructor email,
instructor phone.
3
