AE4451: Course Overview
Catalog Description
The theories and principles of jet and rocket propulsion.  Thermodynamic cycles. The mechanics and thermodynamics of combustion. Turbine engine and rocket
performance characteristics. Component and cycle analysis of jet engines and turbomachinery.

Course Goals
A student successfully completing this course will:

  1. Gain a familiarity with common types of aircraft and spacecraft propulsion systems.
  2. Understand the physical concepts of thermodynamic cycle analysis, including the thermodynamic treatment of chemically reacting systems.
  3. Be able to perform preliminary cycle design and performance analysis for propulsion systems, for both aircraft and spacecraft.
  4. Have a working knowledge of the basic operation and design requirements of propulsion turbomachinery components (inlets, compressors, combustors, turbines, afterburners, and nozzles).
Prerequisites:
AE 3450, Specific areas/concepts include:
  1. thermodynamic concepts of properties and states
  2. conservation equations (mass, momentum, energy, and entropy - Second Law of Thermodynamics)
  3. control volume analysis
  4. one- and two-dimensional compressible flows, e.g., normal and oblique shock, and supersonic flow with area change (nozzles)
Text
    Mechanics and Thermodynamics of Propulsion, 2nd Edition, Philip Hill and Carl Peterson, Addison-Wesleyl, 1992.

In addition, the following are available in the library (or on reserve there).