AE 1350A: Introduction to Aerospace Engineering

Fall Semester 2009

 

Instructor:                     Dr. Robert D. Braun

                                                  robert.braun@ae.gatech.edu

                                                  321-3 Knight Building

                                                     

Class Schedule:          MW 10:05 – 10:55 am, Guggenheim 246

                                                 

Textbooks:                     Required: Anderson, John D., Introduction to Flight, 6th edition, McGraw-Hill, 2008.

 

Instructor Office Hours: MW 2:00 – 3:00 pm

 

TA:                                      

 

TA Office Hours:  

                                                                                         

Course web site:        https://t-square.gatech.edu/

 

Prerequisites:               None        

 

Course Overview:

AE 1350 provides an introduction to the field of aerospace engineering through a discussion of basic principles, aerospace disciplines and aerospace systems. Course content includes a historical perspective followed by an introduction to fluid mechanics, applied aerodynamics, propulsion, airplane performance, stability, orbital motion, and launch vehicle performance. Guest speakers will discuss recent advances in aerospace systems.

 

There will be five homework sets. Each assignment will be due at the beginning of the lecture, one week from the date it is handed out. No late homework assignments will be accepted. The class midterm will cover historical background, fundamental concepts of fluid mechanics, applied aerodynamics, propulsion and airplane performance (Chapters 1-6 and the first half of Chapter 9 in the Anderson text). All class material will be covered in a comprehensive final during finals week. The final exam will cover Anderson Chapters 7, 8 and the remaining Chapter 9 material, as well as that material required for the midterm. Both the midterm and final exam employ a closed book, closed notes format. A team design project is required and a report describing this project is due on the final day of the semester. The team project requires design, development, construction and flight of a small launch vehicle. Aerodynamic, stability, and flight mechanics predictions will be compared to flight data. A final report of 15 pages or less, not including an appendix for the source code, is required. This report must be written in a professional manner, documenting the project scope, significance, analysis approach, results and verification. The report should follow the AIAA conference publication standards and format.

 

Course Materials:

Registered students can access all course materials via T-square.