Provides you with sound knowledge and command of fundamental engineering tools, principles and mathematical techniques with emphasis on engineering applications. You will gain an appropriate background in the fundamental principles of Mathematics, Mechanical Principles (Solid Mechanics), Electronic Principles and their uses by carrying out analytical calculations and laboratory experiments. The module contains the well-recognized elements of classical engineering mathematics which universally underpin the formation of the professional engineer. Therefore, the module will concentrate on: (a) understanding mathematical concepts associated with engineering applications, and (b) applying mathematical skills and techniques to solve engineering problems. 

Builds on the common basis established in Engineering Tools and Principles 1. The aim of this module is to provide you with a clear understanding of Mathematical and Engineering concepts. You will gain an appropriate background in the fundamental principles of Mathematics, Mechanical Principles (Dynamics), Electronic Principles and their uses by carrying out analytical calculations and laboratory experiments. The focus in this module is on practical applications – introducing multivariable functions and their derivatives, matrices, vectors and complex numbers. These building blocks are combined with material from Engineering Tools and Principles 1 to study differential equations. The module also covers uses of statistics and probability in the engineering domain.

Covers four areas:

• Aeronautical Principles with MATLAB based applications

The module introduces the main principles and methods of flight mechanics, such as: flight characteristics and associated physics in climbing/descending flight, cruise flight, take-off and landing. MATLAB and Simulink software will be used for practical computational examples.

• Computer Aided Engineering

Application of CAE to Aeronautical and Mechanical problems with the aid of industry-standard CAD software packages.

• Programming:

MATLAB programming language and its application in solving common engineering problems.

• Thermodynamics:

This topic covers work, heat and mass transfer in aeronautical and mechanical systems, i.e. jet engines and associated components such as turbines and compressors.

Extends the general principles in Fundamentals of Aeronautical Design 1 to consider design features in more detail:

• Fundamentals of Aircraft Design with MATLAB based applications

The module will introduce students to the aircraft design process, covering topics such as: aircraft structural layout, sizing, weight and centre of gravity estimation, tail and fuselage aerodynamic design and landing gear design.

• Computer Aided Engineering

Application of CAE to Aeronautical and Mechanical problems with the aid of industry-standard CAD and Finite Element Analysis software packages.

• Programming

Further MATLAB programming concepts such as importing/exporting, handling and visualizing data sets will be covered. These computational techniques can be used in later years to analyse large data sets generated by modern aircrafts.

• Thermodynamics

This topic will cover further concepts in work, heat and mass transfer and polytropic processes and thermodynamic cycles – these concepts will be useful in aircraft jet engine analysis and design of jet engine components.

The module complements the material covered in Engineering Tools and Principles 1 and 2 modules by extending the Mathematical and Engineering concepts required for advanced study of Mechanical Engineering. There are three parts to the module a Mathematics part, a part on Fluid Mechanics and a part on Heat Transfer.

The mathematics part covers subjects such as vector calculus, Fourier series, partial differential equations and numerical methods. These mathematical concepts will be used in the other two parts of this module and in other modules taught later in the programme.

Fluid Mechanics part includes compressible and incompressible flows, non-dimensional parameter such as Reynolds number, Mach number which are extensively used to understand if the flow is subsonic, transonic, or supersonic. The other topics covered are Bernoulli, continuity, momentum equations and analysis of boundary layers which are useful in aircraft fuselage and wing design.

The Heat Transfer part covers the basics of heat transfer and how various modes of heat transfer can be analysed via application of theoretical and emphatical equations.

The first part of the module introduces students to modelling and analysis of dynamic systems through the investigation of system response, with an emphasis on the free and forced oscillations. The student will learn about modelling physical systems, characteristic equations, natural frequencies, and vibration modes. These concepts are useful in understanding stability, control, and design of mechanical systems.

The second part of the module introduces students to instrumentation aspects of computer control systems. The students will learn about principles of interfacing and instrumentation required for this purpose.

The third part of the module introduces students to the theory of control systems and computer control. The aim is to teach analysis and design of single-input single-output continuous and digital feedback systems. The background theory is supported by computer aided design studies (e.g., using the MATLAB/Simulink package) and practical laboratory experiments.

Studies the structures and materials used in modern aircrafts in the context of their operation through the flight dynamics. The module has two parts: Aircraft structures and Flight Dynamics.

The Aircraft Structures part of the module covers airframe structures such as fuselage frames, wings and wing ribs and materials that are used to manufacture these parts. The performance of these air-frame structures under a range of flight envelopes will be assessed using classical mechanistic techniques.

The Flight Dynamics part of the module covers stability and control of aircrafts and includes topics such as aircraft equations of motion, linearization of equations of motion, longitudinal and lateral/directional modes of motion, stability augmentation and understanding control systems using classical feedback control theory. MATLAB and Simulink will be used to facilitate practical work.

Projects need to deliver a design solution (e.g., a product), which require planning and initiation, and need to be budgeted, costed, and scheduled and completed within these projections. Projects require management of stakeholder expectations, and they need to be undertaken at an agreed level of quality within an accepted level of risk. This module presents some of the background, theory, and practice to enable learners to embed professional project management expertise in their professional and academic development.

Design part of the module will teach advanced computer aided design skills and advanced Finite Element Analysis skills which can be used to analysis mechanical components and how and why they could fail under varying load and multidimensional stress conditions.

Addresses the main aspects and methods of human factors affecting flight safety, together with concepts in modern aviation management. While modern aircrafts have sophisticated computer control systems, they still rely upon pilots. It is therefore important to understand the way pilots respond, particularly in stressful situations. Furthermore, given the scale of the aviation industry and the complexity of flight management, managing the overall infrastructure is far from trivial.

The human factors and flight safety part of this module includes topics such as:

• Different aspects of flight safety connected to human operation
• Human conditions such as fatigue, complacency, and stress affecting safety
• Human errors and human performance: competence of aircraft crew, in aircraft maintenance practices and air traffic management
• Human Risk Informed Design (HURID) principles: flight desk design, crew interaction capability, air traffic management interface
• Upset recovery pilot training

The Aviation Management Part of the module covers topics and case studies such as:

• Hub operations and Point to Point operations
• Aircraft selection: based on capacity, distance, seating, fuel burn and cargo operations, number of engines, etc
• Airline pricing strategies: based on demand for air travel, routes, classes, etc.
• Airline passenger strategies: Market segmentation, routes, passenger retention strategies
• External effects of aviation congestion, noise and light pollution

Explores the principles of jet-engine propulsion. The module covers thermofluid analysis of different types of jet engines and constituent components together with aero-engine noise. Topics covered include:

• Types of engine and layout of propulsion systems
• Thermodynamic full cycle analysis of turbo jet and turbo fan engines
• Combustion chambers and fundamentals of combustion analysis
• Fluid Mechanics of Propulsion systems: velocity triangles applied to stator and rotor blades, isentropic flow through nozzles, shockwaves and expansion fans, supersonic aerofoil theory
• Aero-engine noise: 1D and 3D wave propagation, noise generation, aircraft certification, aero-engine noise analysis, aero-engine noise mitigation

Each project will be individual to the student, who will be assigned a supervisor and will also have the support of the teaching team on this module. The chosen topic will require the student to formulate problems, conduct literature reviews, determine solutions, evaluate information, write reports, develop hardware and software as appropriate, process data, and critically appraise and present their findings using a variety of media.

In Block 3, the majority of the technical information will be taught and assessed while students make a start on their projects. In Block 4, students will mainly concentrate on their individual project with the technical skills assessed in this context rather than generically.

Modelling and Simulation for Aeronautical Projects 1 addresses the main concepts and methods of Computational Fluid Dynamics and Finite Element Method in the context of part of a project using these techniques. The taught component will equip you with skills in mesh generation, application of boundary conditions, use of commercial CFD/FEA packages and applications of CFD/FEA to selected engineering problems.

The complimentary second module Modelling and Simulation for Aeronautical Projects 2 is your individual project. Possible project areas could be in stress and strain analysis of aircraft structures, CFD modelling of external airflow, CFD modelling of flow inside combustion chambers, analysis of turbine blade cooling, etc.

This project path would normally suit students who wish to follow a career focused on simulation of complex engineering components and systems both in aeronautical and mechanical industries.

Analysis, Programming and Simulation for Aeronautical Projects 1 provides students with a core understanding of analytical skills using programming, mathematical analysis and user-defined simulation within the context of an individual project. The module will familiarise students with flight simulator designs and operation principles. Students will be exposed to Airfox DISO flight simulator with movable 6DOF as in-depth example of these skills.

The complimentary second module Analysis, Programming and Simulation for Aeronautical Projects 2 is your individual project. Possible project areas could be related to Flight Simulator software and hardware programming and design technologies, or any other programming intensive projects related to aviation.

This project path would normally suit students who wish to follow a career focused on software programming related to the aviation industry; covering a broad range of areas such as design, implementation, maintenance and operation of software tools for both aeronautical and mechanical industries.

Materials and Design for Aeronautical Projects 1 provides students with a core understanding of advanced materials and advanced Aero-elasticity within the context of an individual project. The taught component will be in two parts: technical tools for materials and design projects and transferable tools, which could be used in your final year project or in industry.

The complimentary second module Materials and Design for Aeronautical Projects 2 in Block 4 is your individual project. The design project areas could be in aircraft structures, aeroelasticity aspects in aircraft design, use of novel materials in aircraft design, etc.

This project path would normally suit students who wish to follow a career focused on the materials or structural parts of engineering, including both aeronautical and mechanical industries.

In this module students will understand and reflect upon sustainability and the role of business in a rapidly changing, globalised world. It identifies opportunities and threats for industry arising from environmental policy, legislation and societal change, and explores how businesses respond to future environmental challenges: for example, through supply chain management, logistics, life-cycle analysis, green accounting and carbon trading. This module benefits future practitioners in industry, and future academics exploring the sustainability of engineering businesses.

The module will teach you to demonstrate self-direction, group working and originality in problem solving. Teaching of research methods and associated study skills will be integrated through coursework and assignments to prepare you to plan and successfully complete your project. Material includes: understanding the research of others, literature reviewing, research methodologies, data interpretation and analysis, research ethics, intellectual property and report writing.

Aeronautical Engineering has driven major advances in the field of material science and which has created advanced materials suitable to withstand the high temperatures and loads required.

This module provides students with the opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of the topic of composite materials, including their properties, manufacturing, analysis, and design. The module focuses on manufacturing methods, structure-composition-properties relationship, micro-mechanical modelling, and application of composite materials. Students will develop an in-depth understanding of the manufacturing and processing characteristics of composite materials; ability in analysing engineering problems involving composite materials for sustainable mechanical design; practical skills in micro-mechanical modelling of composite materials to predict fracture and failure; and an understanding of composite materials processing, selection and their applications in engineering.

With the emerging field of unmanned aircrafts in modern aeronautical engineering, it is important for the next generation of engineers to understand both manned and unmanned aircrafts and how they interrelate. Furthermore, a significant part of the cost of running aircraft is the time spent maintaining them. Hence, increasingly, companies are more and more including design for maintenance in their processes.

This module has two parts: Manned and UAV Design and aspects of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services.

Modern aircraft and UAV design is a subject which joins together mathematics, mechanics, electronics, computing sciences and control theory to build an efficient flying robot for various applications. The module will familiarize the students with the principles of aircraft UAV design and its subsystems: on board electronics, communication, propulsion and power systems. paired with the design for performance, maintenance and reliability of aircraft

Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul (MRO) and support of aircraft, engines and components encompass a wide range of complex activities: service lifecycle management, repair, modifications and upgrades, support services, supply chain services to mention a few. The objectives of the aircraft maintenance, repair, overhaul (MRO) part of the module are to provide students with up-to date exposure to modern techniques and methods, regulations and standards applied in aviation industry. The module covers a wide range of topics from aircraft maintenance to sustainability issues in relation to aircraft operations in compliance with international regulations.

The module provides an opportunity for students to work on an engineering project as a multidisciplinary team, which will be similar to that found in industry. A project contains many facets of engineering, science, management and business, and often the students are not exposed to these multidisciplinary aspects until they move into industry. This module has been specifically designed to expose the students to the multidisciplinary and team nature of many engineering projects, helping to highlight individual strengths and weaknesses.

It will also help to prepare the students for being responsible for quality of their output, in particular conforming to required protocols, and managing technical uncertainty. The selected engineering project will give an opportunity for engineering students to learn and practise engineering design as well as key skills. The engineering design and practise will include design using appropriate technical information and engineering knowledge, problem solving, application and development of mathematical and computer models, the understanding and selection of components & materials, the necessary workshop and laboratories techniques. The key skill aspect will include understanding and practising project management, leadership, and risk management applied to a technical project that could involve communication of ideas within a team and wider (potentially international) audience, as well as the social and environmental aspects.

A typical group project could be designing an Unmanned Aerial vehicle for drug delivery where airfield access is limited.