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Aerospace Engineering and
Engineering Mechanics

In the College of Engineering

Office: Engineering 308
Telephone: (619) 594-6074

The undergraduate degree in Aerospace Engineering is accredited
by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc.

Faculty

Emeritus: Faulkner, Shutts

Chair: Plotkin

Professors: Conly, Dharmarajan, Katz, Narang, Nosseir, Pierucci, Plotkin, Wang

Associate Professor: Lyrintzis

Offered by the Department

Doctor of Philosophy degree in applied mechanics.

Master of Science degree in aerospace engineering.

Major in aerospace engineering with the B.S. degree.

Transfer Credit

No credit will be given for upper division engineering coursework taken at an institution having an engineering program which has not been accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc., unless the student successfully completes the first 12 units of engineering work attempted at this university. At that time, and upon recommendation of the department, credit will be given for the unaccredited work.

General Education

Students will complete a minimum of 50 units in General Education, to include a minimum of nine upper division units taken after attaining junior class standing. No more than twelve units may be used for General Education credit from any one department or academic unit.

I. Communication and Critical Thinking: 9 units: 1. Oral Communication (3 units); 2. Composition (3 units); 3. Intermediate Composition and Critical Thinking (3 units)
II. Foundations: 29 units: A. Natural Sciences and Quantitative Reasoning (17 units):; 1. Physical Sciences (11 units)
Engineering students will take Chemistry 200 which includes a laboratory (5 units).; Physics 195 (3 units); Physics 196 (3 units); 2. Life Sciences (3 units); 3. Laboratory (satisfied under A.1. above); 4. Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning
Engineering students will take Mathematics 150 (3 units) applicable to General Education.; B. Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 units); C. Humanities (9 units)
Complete three courses in three different areas. One of these courses and the one under IV.A. below must be taken in the same department.
III. American Institutions: Three units of the six units of coursework which meet the American Institutions graduation requirement may be used in General Education, excluding courses numbered 500 and above.
IV. Explorations: Total 9 units; must include one course of cultural diversity.: A. Upper division Humanities (3 units)
Three units must be taken from the same department as one of the Humanities courses selected in Foundations.; B. Upper division Humanities (3 units from a department not selected in A above.); C. Upper division Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 units)

The Major

The Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics offers a rigorous and balanced education which includes the study of aerodynamics, aerospace structures, propulsion, flight mechanics and vehicle design. The goal of this program is to create professional aerospace engineers with an understanding of the physical fundamentals underlying atmospheric and space flight, and with the capability of applying this knowledge for research, analysis, and design purposes. Moreover, the physical background and design synthesis that are characteristic of an aerospace engineering student's education also prepare the student to work productively in other fields such as energy, transportation, and ocean engineering.

The aerospace industry, the second largest industry in our country, is one of the largest employers of engineers. Opportunities for employment in entry level positions in large aircraft companies, general aviation manufacturers, the airlines, or government aerospace-related laboratories are good. Graduates of the program are also qualified to continue their formal education at the graduate level or to accept entry level positions in several nonaerospace fields.

Aerospace Engineering Major

With the B.S. Degree (Major Code: 09021)

Students majoring in Aerospace Engineering must include in their program a sequence of fundamental courses. In addition, the students have the opportunity to satisfy their particular areas of interest by selecting a pattern of study indicated in the sequence below. This pattern includes typical aerospace engineering topics, such as aerospace vehicle design, performance, structural analysis, aerodynamics, and propulsion. The students' choice of elective courses and area of specialization must be made in consultation with their adviser and documented by the filing of an approved master plan during the first semester of their junior year.

Upper Division Writing Requirement. Departmental screening in Aerospace Engineering 303, or passing the University Writing Examination, or completing one of the approved writing courses with a grade of C (2.0) or better.

NOTE: See following page for recommended sequence of courses for the major in aerospace engineering.

Courses

LOWER DIVISION COURSE IN
AEROSPACE ENGINEERING

123. The Aerospace Engineer (1)

Introduction to professional aerospace engineering. Emphasis on aeronautics and astronautics.

UPPER DIVISION COURSES IN
AEROSPACE ENGINEERING

(Intended for Undergraduates)

301. Low Speed Aerodynamics (3)

Prerequisite: Credit or concurrent registration in Engineering Mechanics 340.

Subsonic flow, airfoil and wing theory, experimental characteristics of wing sections, high lift devices.

302. High Speed Aerodynamics (3)

Prerequisites: Aerospace Engineering 301 and Mechanical Engineering 352.

Supersonic flow, two- and three-dimensional compressible flow, wings in compressible flow, two- and three-dimensional method of characteristics, transonic flow.

303. Experimental Aerodynamics (2)

One lecture and three hours of laboratory.

Prerequisites: Engineering Mechanics 341 and credit or concurrent registration in Aerospace Engineering 301. Proof of completion of prerequisite required for the following: To be eligible for the departmental upper division writing test in this class, students must have completed 60 units, fulfilled the Writing Competency requirement, and completed the General Education requirement in Written Communication. Test scores or verification of exemption; copy of transcript or enrollment confirmation.

Operating characteristics of subsonic and supersonic wind tunnels. Aerodynamic characteristics of wings and bodies. Flow visualization techniques. Force, moment and pressure distribution measurement. Use of hot-wire anemometer and schlieren equipment.

310. Aerospace Structural Analysis (3)

Prerequisite: Civil Engineering 301.

Methods of static structural analysis of problems encountered in flight of aerospace vehicles.

320. Aerospace Flight Mechanics (3)

Prerequisites: Engineering Mechanics 220 and Engineering 280.

Aerodynamics and dynamics of ballistic missiles; guidance systems; orbits and space trajectories; effects of aerodynamics, mass, rotation and shape of the earth on ballistic and space trajectories. Computer programming and problem solutions will be emphasized.

403. Aerospace Engineering Senior Project (3)

One lecture and six hours of laboratory.

Prerequisites: Aerospace Engineering 302, 303, Engineering Mechanics 340.

Design and build an aerospace project, conduct experimental measurements, perform analyses of measured data.

410. Aerospace Structural Dynamics (3)

Prerequisites: Credit or concurrent registration in Aerospace Engineering 310.

Methods of structural dynamic analysis of problems encountered in aerospace vehicles.

430. Aircraft Propulsion Systems (3)

Prerequisite: Aerospace Engineering 302 or Mechanical Engineering 450.

Theory and performance characteristics of aircraft propulsion systems including reciprocating engines, turbojets, ramjets, etc.

440. Aircraft Stability and Control I (3)

Prerequisite: Aerospace Engineering 303.

Static stability and control, general equations of unsteady motion, stability derivatives, stability of uncontrolled motion, response of aircraft to actuation of controls.

460A. Aerospace Engineering Applications (2) I

Six hours of laboratory.

Prerequisites: Aerospace Engineering 302, 303 and 310.

Student projects in aerospace design.

460B. Aerospace Engineering Applications (3) II

One lecture and five hours of design activity.

Prerequisite: Aerospace Engineering 460A.

Student projects in aerospace design.

480. Aeroelasticity and Acoustics (2)

Prerequisites: Aerospace Engineering 302 and 410.

Theory of fluid-structure interaction. Flutter phenomena. Buffeting. Oscillating airfoils in compressible flow. Theory of acoustics. Acoustic radiation. Effect of fluid motion.

496. Advanced Aerospace Engineering Topics (1-3) I, II

Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

Modern developments in engineering. See Class Schedule for specific content. Maximum credit six units for any combination of Aerospace Engineering 496 and 499.

499. Special Study (1-3) I, II

Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

Individual study. Maximum credit six units for any combination of Aerospace Engineering 496 and 499.

FRESHMAN YEAR

 Fall Semester                 Units  Spring Semester                 Units

 Chem. 200, General Chemistry      5  Phys. 195, Principles of           3
                                      Physics
 Math. 150, Single Variable           Math. 151, Calc. and Anal.
 Calculus                          5  Geom.                              4
 General Education                 6  ME 190, Engineering Drawing        2

 AE 123, The Aerospace Engineer    1  Engr. 120, Engr. Problem           2
                                      Analysis
                                      General Education                  6
                                  17                                    17

SOPHOMORE YEAR

 Fall Semester                   Units  Spring Semester               Units
 Math. 252, Multivariable               Phys. 197, Principles of
 Calculus                            4  Physics                          3

 EM 200, Statics                     3  EE 204, Principles of Elec.      3
                                        Engr.
 General Education                   9  EM 220, Dynamics                 3
 Phys. 196, Principles of               Engr. 280, Methods of
 Physics                             3  Analysis                         3
                                        General Education                3
                                        ME 260, Engineering Materials    3
                                    19                                  18

JUNIOR YEAR

 Fall Semester                    Units  Spring Semester              Units
 ME 352, Thermodynamics and Heat         Engr. 510, Methods of
 Transfer                             3  Analysis                        3

 AE 301, Low Speed Aerodynamics       3  AE 302, High Speed              3
                                         Aerodynamics
 CE 301, Intro. to Solid                 AE 303, Experimental
 Mechanics                            3  Aerodynamics                    2

 CE 302, Solid Mechanics Lab.         1  AE 310, Aerospace Struc.        3
                                         Anal.

 EM 340, Fluid Mechanics              3  AE 320, Aerospace Flight        3
                                         Mech.
 EM 341, Fluid Mechanics Lab.         1  General Education               3
 General Education                    3
                                     17                                 17

SENIOR YEAR

Fall Semester-All Specializations

                                                      Units
                 AE 403, Aerosp. Engr. Senior Project     3
                 AE 410, Aerospace Struc. Dynamics        3
                 AE 430, Aircraft Propulsion Systems      3
                 AE 440, Aircraft Stab. and Control I     3
                 AE 460A, Aerosp. Engr. Applications      2
                 American Institutions                    3
                                                         17

Spring Semester-All Specializations

 Aerodynamics       Units Aerospace          Units Propulsion &       Units
                          Structures               Flight Mechanics
                          
 AE 460B, Aerosp.         AE 460B, Aerosp.         AE 460B, Aerosp.
 Engr. Applications    3  Engr. Applications    3  Engr. Applications    3
 AE 480,                  AE 480,                  AE 480,
 Aeroelasticity &      2  Aeroelasticity &      2  Aeroelasticity &      2
 Acoustics                Acoustics                Acoustics
 American                 American                 American
 Institutions          3  Institutions          3  Institutions          3
 General Education     3  General Education     3  General Education     3

Spring Semester-According to Specialization

Choose any two courses: Choose any two courses: Choose any two courses:
 AE 530, Rocket &         AE 540, Arcrft.         AE 520, Int.
 Space Propulsion       3 Stability & Control  3  Aerospace Flight      3
                          II                      Mech.

 AE 550, Viscous Flow   3 EM 510, Fin. Ele.    3  AE 530, Rocket &      3
                          Meth. Aero. Struc.      Space Propulsion

 EM 510, Fin. Elem.       EM 530, Composite       AE 540, Arcrft.
 Meth. Aero. Struc.     3 Struc. Analysis      3  Stability & Cntrl.    3
                                                  II
                       17                     17                       17

Other electives may be substituted with permission of the adviser and department chair.