Course Description

300/400/500 | 600 | 700/800

AE 601. Introduction to Continuum Mechanics. Lecture 3 hours, 3 credits. Indicial notations and tensor calculus; stress and strain tensors; rate of deformation tensor, Eulerian and Lagrangian descriptions, conservation principles, constitutive formulations for elastic solids and viscous fluids, formulations of fluid mechanics and solid mechanics problems. Simple applications. (cross-listed with ME 607)

AE 602. Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics and Aerodynamics. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Corequisite: MATH 691, Prerequisites: AE 601. Conservation laws for viscous and inviscid flows, formulation of fluid mechanics and aerodynamics problems. Analytical and numerical solutions of viscous flow problems. Two- and three-dimensional potential flows with applications to airfoils and wings. Introduction to hydrodynamic stability and turbulence.

AE 603. Energy and Variational Methods in Structural Mechanics. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Corequisite: MATH 691. Concepts of energy and variational methods, calculus of variations, variational principles of structural mechanics, Castigliano's Theorems. Approximate methods of solution, applications to bars, beams, and plates. Linear Stress, buckling and vibration problems. (cross-listed with ME 606)

AE 604. Analytical Dynamics of Aerospace Vehicles. Lecture 3 hours; 3 Credits. Advanced kinematics with moving reference frames. Coordinate transformation matrices. Euler equations of motion. Gyroscopic systems and gyroscopic instrument theory. Elementary missile dynamics. Principle of virtual work, D'Alembert's principle, Hamilton's principle, Lagrange's Equations of Motion.

AE 605. Applied Engineering Analysis. Lecture 3 hours, 3 credits. Applications of linear algebra, ordinary and partial differential equations, and complex variables to engineering problems in structural dynamics, applied automatic control and aerodynamics.

AE 606. Applied Signal Processing. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Introduction to random processes, fast Fourier transforms, digital filters, digital signal processing methods, and sensors and transducers. Applications to experimental modal analysis, experimental aerodynamics, and real-time control of electro-mechanical systems.

AE 610. Subsonic Flow. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisites: AE 406 or 602, MATH 691. Conservation laws, curvilinear coordinates; exact solutions to inviscid equations; Green's theorem; superposition of singularities; nonlifting bodies; vortex and circulation theorems; conformal mapping; thin airfoil theory; lifting line and lifting surface theories; panel techniques; introduction to unsteady flows.

AE 611. Supersonic Aerodynamics. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisite: AE 602. Governing equation for supersonic flows, Crocco's Theorem, entropy production, Euler limit equations, full potential equation, classification of PDE's governing subsonic, supersonic and transonic flows, first and second-order small disturbance theory, airfoil flows, slender bodies of revolution flows, conical flows, wing flows.

AE 612. Boundary Layer Theory. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisite: AE 602. Boundary layer equations; method of matched asymptotic expansions; body oriented coordinates, finite-difference solutions; separations, wake and jet flows; thermal and compressible boundary layers, transformations and finite-difference solutions, unsteady boundary layers.

AE 613. Fundamentals of Turbulence. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Corequisite: AE 612. Prerequisite: AE 602. Introduction to the statistical behavior of turbulence. Spectral analysis. Two-point correlations. Reynold's and Favre averaging. Turbulence scales; Kolmogoroff scales. Isotropic and homogeneous turbulence. Mixing length theories. Introduction to turbulence modeling. Introduction to experimental measurements.

AE 620. Computational Fluid Dynamics I. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisite: MATH 691. Classification of single PDE's; finite difference methods; stability analysis, convergence, consistency, efficiency; basics of finite volume methods; model equations of hyperbolic, parabolic and elliptic type; explicit and implicit schemes, central and upwind schemes, weak solutions of quasi-linear hyperbolic equations.

AE 621. Experimental Fluid Mechanics. Lecture 2 hours; Laboratory 2 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisite: AE 602 or 406; AE 611. Techniques for static and dynamic measurement of pressure, temperature, and velocity. Experiment control, statistical treatment of data. Probe methods, including multi-hole pressure probes and hot-wire anemometers. Non-intrusive methods, including Laser Doppler Velocimetry and other optical methods. Surface and stream flow visualization. Surface measurements.

AE 622. Aerospace Test Facilities. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisite: Permission of the Instructor. Comprehensive examination of aerodynamic test facilities for use in subsonic, transonic, supersonic, and hypersonic flow regimes. Aspects of wind tunnel design and operation. Flow quality. Wall and support interferences. Advanced concepts, including cryogenic wind tunnels, adaptive wall test sections and magnetic suspension. Dynamic testing. Review of flight test methods, including extraction of aerodynamic parameters from flight test data. Review of engine test facilities. Review of ground test facilities for space structures and other space systems.

AE 623. Computational Fluids Dynamics Laboratory. Laboratory 4 hours; 2 credits. Prerequisite: Permission of the Instructor. Overview of fluids equations, discretization, algorithms, stability, grid generation, uncertainty; use of selected software commonly used by practitioners in industry, research labs and academia for grid generation, solutions and postprocessing.

AE 630. Theory of Elasticity. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisites: MATH 691 and AE 601, or ME 607. Equations of equilibrium, strain-displacement, compatibility, and constitutive equations using Airy and complex potential stress functions; plane engineering boundary-value problems for beams, disks, thick-walled cylinders and various stress raiser problems. Torsion of thin-walled sections. General three-dimensional elasticity problems. (cross-listed with ME 609).

AE 631. Theory of Plates. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisite: MATH 691. Classical and higher-order theories of plates. Navier and Levy solution procedures. Applications to isotropic and laminated plates. Buckling and vibration of plates.

AE 632. Theory of Shells. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisite: MATH 691 and AE 603. Differential geometry and curvilinear coordinates. Membrane theory of shells. Shells of revolution. Applications to isotropic and laminated shells. Introduction to nonlinear theory.

AE 633. Flight Vehicle Structural Analysis. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisite: MATH 691. Aircraft loads estimation. Review of basic elasticity. Stress functions Prandtl stress function, St. Venant warping, membrane analogy. Bending, shear, and torsion of open and closed, thin-walled cross sections. Analysis of tapered beams with application to fuselages and wings, cutouts and constraints. Introduction to composite materials

AE 634. Structural Vibrations. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisites ME 404 and MATH 691. Natural modes of discrete and continuous systems, closed form and approximate methods; free and forced responses. Theory of modal analysis and approximate methods for undamped and damped systems; transform and wave solutions. Finite element methods. Structural vibrations under combined loading. Introduction to non-linear vibrations. Applications to rods, beams, plates, and shells.

AE 640. Finite Element Analysis I. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisite: MATH 691. Mathematical concepts of finite element analysis. Variational approach based on weak-form solutions to partial differential equations. Basic concepts of interpolation functions, continuity, discretization, and assembly. Applications to 1-D and 2-D problems of engineering.

AE 641. Experimental Structural Dynamics. Lecture 1 hour; Laboratory 4 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisite: AE 634. Experimental techniques and methods for structural dynamics and vibrating systems. Instrumentation selection and utilization including electrodynamic shakers, impact hammers, accelerometers, laser vibrometers, signal analyzers, signal filters, and force transducers. Time and frequency domain data acquisition, assessment and post processing. Demonstration of correlation and theoretical vibration topics for lumped and distributed systems undergoing free and forced motion.

AE 650. Modern Control Theory. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisite ME 436 or equivalent. Formulation of state space equations governing dynamics and stability of linear systems. Controllability; observability. State feedback control design. Optimal control methods. State observers and estimators. (cross-listed with ME 636).

AE 651. Applied Real-Time Control. Lecture 2 hours; laboratory 2 hours; 3 credits. Corequisite AE 438/538. Real-time computer programming methods for control of electromechanical systems. Synchronous programming, timing and time interrupts, asynchronous signal processing, data structures for real-time control, control of multiple independent processes, operator interfaces, event driven scheduling, interaction of digital computers with controlled processes. The course includes laboratory experience using micro-computers to control electro-mechanical systems.

AE 660. Aerospace Vehicle Performance. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisites: AE406 or 602, ME 414 or AE 611. A study of the flight performance of aerospace vehicles. Review of aerodynamic, and propulsion characteristics. Range, flight and maneuver envelopes for vehicles in atmospheric flight. Introduction to methods of design and trajectory optimization. Design and performance of launch vehicles. Open-ended, design-oriented project work.

AE 667. Cooperative Education. 1-3 credits.

AE 671. Aircraft Propulsion Systems. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisite: AE 417. Thermodynamic cycles of aerospace propulsion systems. Fluid flow in turbo machinery; rotor/fluid interaction. Design and performance of air intakes; axial compressors; combustion chambers; axial turbines; propelling nozzles. Special topics include transonic stages, centrifugal compressors and turbines, variable geometry nozzles.

AE 681. Theoretical Acoustics. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisite: MATH 691. Introduction to the linear theory of acoustics. Waves on flexible strings, bars, membranes, plates and shells. Acoustic wave motion in fluids. Radiation, scattering and absorption of sound. Coupling of acoustical systems. Acoustics in moving media. Nonlinear oscillations and waves.

AE 682. Introduction to Computational Mechanics. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisite: FORTRAN or C experience. Matrix and symbolic computing systems, use of computational and visualization techniques for solving linear and nonlinear algebraic systems, eigensolvers, minimization methods, integration, regression analysis, data reduction, ODE systems, performance metrics for algorithms, applications to aerospace engineering and engineering mechanics.

AE 683. Introduction to Rotorcraft Performance and Dynamics. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisite: MATH 691. Introduction to rotorcraft; Hover aerodynamics performance; Auto rotation; Blade motion & rotor control; Forward flight aerodynamics & performance; Rotor dynamics & stability.

AE 690. Aerospace Engineering Seminar. Lecture 1 hour; 1 credit. Regular tutorials on recent topics of interest in Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics.

AE 691. Experimental Research Project. Laboratory 6 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. An independent laboratory experience in the area of either aerodynamics, structural dynamics or applied automatic control. Results will be reported in a format and quality similar to a technical conference paper.

AE 695. Topics in Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. Special topics of interest with emphasis placed on recent developments in aerospace engineering or engineering mechanics.

AE 697. Independent Study in Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics. Lecture 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. Individual analytical and/or experimental study selected by the student. Supervised and approved by the advisor.

AE 698. Thesis Research in Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics. Credit hours: Variable 1-3. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. Research leading to the Master of Science thesis.