Aerospace at Queen-Marry university of london.

Aerospace Engineering
Introduction Course outline Research projects Facilities Career opportunities Industrial links
Introduction Aerospace technology has grown out of the problems of design, construction, and operation of vehicles that manoeuvre above the Earth's surface - ground-effect machines, helicopters, aircraft and spacecraft. Design of such vehicles has always been challenging, because they operate in a hostile environment, and also because they have to be lightweight, efficient and reliable. These same requirements apply not only to future spacecraft and high performance transport aircraft, but also to the next generation of ground transportation, such as high-speed trains, cars, over-water transportation, sport vehicles. Future work is anticipated in zero gravity and manufacturing of high-purity materials and medicines, and the design of solar-powered satellites. Aerospace engineering is a field where state-of-the-art technologies are applied every day. It is an exciting profession with outstanding career opportunities in which physical sciences, mathematics and computers are combined in the design of air and space vehicle systems and components to achieve high performance with limited size and weight. This requires aerospace engineers to constantly develop and apply the most advanced technologies. Given the rapid developments in aerospace technology, the Department's overall goal is to teach you how to respond to these changes and advance with them. Teaching is directed not only towards securing you a job in the aerospace industry when you complete the course, but also providing a springboard to research and management positions in civil and military aviation, not to mention careers in government. The Department offers: four-year full-time MEng in Aerospace Engineering, H420 four-year full-time MEng in Aerospace Systems, H425 three-year full-time BEng in Aerospace Engineering, H421 four-year sandwich BEng in Aerospace Engineering, H422 three-year full-time BEng in Avionics HH45 The curriculum development for Aerospace students is based on carefully selected goals for the educational program and is closely linked to the needs of aerospace industry. The overall goal is to train engineers who are able to respond to the rapid developments in aerospace technology. Training is directed towards future top positions, not only in the aerospace industry and research institutions, but also in other engineering fields. This programme aims to satisfy the requirements of industry and at the same time be interesting and rewarding to the student. Training in workshop practice, which is an essential requirement for accreditation by IMechE & Royal Aeronautical Society is provided via a field course. After studying the Aspect of Aerospace Design course in the first year, students specialise in aerospace engineering in the second and third years. One popular activity is attendance at the Flight Testing short course at Cranfield College of Aeronautics, where in-flight experiments are conducted in an instrumented Jet stream aircraft. Taking readings from instruments while the aircraft is undergoing a stall is an enlightening experience! A popular feature of this programme is the individual project, which is carried out throughout the final year. This may be a detailed design study, an experimental and/or theoretical investigation. Projects we have run include: helicopter control and development of a control system, effects of expansion waves on the structure of a supersonic turbulent boundary layer, and wing tip propulsion for induced drag reduction. Students on the sandwich course will spend their third year working in industry either in the UK or abroad. The Department assists in finding placements for these students. The four-year MEng Aerospace Engineering programme enables broader and deeper study in specialist topics during the fourth year. The fourth year includes an MEng project, a full course-unit of aerospace design, theoretical courses in aerodynamics, computational mechanics and computational fluid dynamics. All students on this programme undertake a group design project in their final year which emphasises the benefits of teamwork in tackling complex problems. Top of page Course outline Year 1 Aero Eng Design Stress Analysis Computing & Statistics Mechanics of Fluids Dynamics Thermodynamics Engineering Maths Year 2 Classical Aerodynamics Electrical Technology Engineering Maths Structural Analysis Mechanics of Fluids 2 Vibration and Control Design Communication, Design and Manufacture Year 3 Research Project Applied Aerodynamics Aerospace structures Stability and Control Spacecraft Design Maintenance Planning Aircraft Propulsion Op and Fin Management Aerospace Design Year 4 Group Project Computational Engineering Advanced Spacecraft Design Aerospace Design Computational Fluid Dynamics Advanced Aerodynamics Top of page Research Projects Modelling of the forward fuselage of the Project Orion Aircraft As part of 4th year projects, students are developing a derivative (powered) aircraft: Project Orion. In an effort to accelerate progress to permit flight testing in 2003/4, three extra independent third year projects are set this year. This project would involve reverse engineering in order to arrive at a sufficiently representative CAD model of the forward fuselage of the aircraft, which is based on an EA9 Kit Glider presently in Whitehead Laboratory. The modelling package will be IDEAS. The aim is to produce a 3-D model of the forward fuselage (to permit further design work), and to derive an estimate of the moments of inertia etc. If time permits, then further design work on the forward fuselage can be initiated (such as the design and fitting of the canopy) and the CAD model of the fuselage exterior might later be used to produce a wind tunnel model. Before the project can properly commence, however, it should be noted that some time will be needed to gain experience with the IDEAS modelling and mechanisms software using self-learn tutorials. This project would particularly suit students who think they may wish to continue working on Project Orion in their 4th year. Aerodynamics of low aspect ratio wings Recently a US entrepreneur called Wernicke proposed a new aircraft concept with low aspect wings and large large wing fences, prompting the following: a project to investigate the aerodynamics of low aspect ratio monoplane wings. In Semester A, a set of wings would be tested with various aspect ratios, less than about 3. The lift and drag of each wing would measured for different angles of attack and Reynolds numbers, with and without transition trips. Attention will then be paid to the influence of different wing tips and end plates - in order to verify data in a book by S. F. Hoerner "Fluid Dynamic Drag" - in the library. Subsonic aerodynamics of re-entry lifting bodies In the past NASA and ESA have proposed many different winged re-entry vehicle shapes with large curvature "lifting bodies" shapes, such as the M2-F2, Hermes, X-38 etc., which all had relatively low lift-over-drag (L/D) ratios at subsonic airspeeds. The objective of this study would be to find-out which shapes had the best L/D ratios. One such lifting body shape has been made and is ready for testing in Tunnel 2. Other shapes may also be tested, after a literature review has been undertaken. Aerodynamics of airships Several ellipsoidal bodies of revolution have been made and are ready for testing in Tunnel 2. The aim of this project would be compare previous experimental results of a 4:1 length/diameter body with other bodies either a 2/3:1 body or a double-ellipsoid similar to the hull design of the ATG Skycat. See www.airship.com for more background information. Generally the main design aim is to reduce the drag coefficient, based on a reference area: the volume of the body raised to the power 2/3. Design of thrust micro-balance for spacecraft electric propulsion unit Research work on a colloid nano thruster is currently underway which will produce a thrust magnitude in the order of a few mN. One test of the system will be the measurement of thrust in vacuum. The objectives of this project are therefore to review the possible methods for determining thrust from such a device recognizing the particular problems of the supply of services to the thruster (high voltage electricity and fluid feed), and to produce a detailed outline design of the thrust stand. Initially a literature review will be undertaken, and specific reference to designs of thrust balances at NASA, RAL and QinetiQ. Following this a trade off of the potential solutions will be undertaken identifying measurement noise sources. Finally a fully detailed paper design will be produced using the IDEAS package. It is not anticipated that any manufacture will take place during this project, unless very rapid progress is made by the student. Modelling of an evaporating droplet in vacuum with an applied electric field Spacecraft colloid electric propulsion functions by accelerating small charged droplets of fluid to a high velocity in an electrostatic field. The thrust that is generated arises throughout this acceleration process and hence it is important to understand the way in which the mass of the droplet changes due to evaporation. The objective of this project is to develop a simple model of the general evaporation process which may lead at certain times to the break-up of the droplet due to electrostatic forces. Initially a literature review will be undertaken to identify the key processes which take place for an uncharged fluid droplet introduced into vacuum. The changes to this basic situation when there are additional electrostatic (Coulombic) forces of the charge in the droplet will also be part of this review. A thermodynamic model of the evaporation process will then be developed from a theoretical viewpoint. A simple numerical model of principal features of this model will be developed. Spacecraft tethers The possibility of using tethers in space have been identified as a method for both changing the orbit of a satellite or as a method of generation of power for the satellite. There was recently a test of a tether system on board the shuttle which demonstrated some problems with the deployment mechanism. The objective of this project is to review the available literature on the subject of tethers and identify realistic opportunities in space for this technology. Colloid thruster noise modelling A spacecraft electric colloid thruster consists of an array of miniature emitters which produce a fine spray of charged particles. Various parametric models are available which describe the key factors of this spray. One application of these propulsion units which is of great interest is their use for space missions which have a very high degree of accuracy in the thrust delivered -such as the LISA mission. In this project the various thrust noise sources such as flow stability, and acceleration potential variation will be identified and their impact upon performance evaluated. The objective of the project is therefore to develop a spread sheet model to identify the noise from a colloid electric thruster array. Initially a review of the literature on colloid thrusters will be undertaken together with a review of the electrospray process. The simplest model available will then be used to develop the parametric sensitivity of a thruster array. A random fluctuation of the performance within the array of individual emitters will be used to develop a noise spectrum from the thruster. Particle Dynamics Low altitude airplanes and helicopters are particularly vulnerable to sand entering the engine and causing a severe damage. This year project concentrates on reviewing the role of External Air Particle Separators (EAPS) in preventing such damage and in simple particle dynamics. In a follow up project, the student is expected to look deeper into the role of particle dynamics in filter elements by using an existing Fortran program and extending it to 3D or including the effect of rigid surfaces. Simple flow visualization using Excel or Harvard chart is required. Active noise control Noise suppression has become essential nowadays due to increase in aircraft traffic and use of heavy machinery. One way to suppress undesired sound is to generate anti-sound. These are sound waves that when interact with the noise, destroy it. Such a technique is used in passenger cabins of airliners and lately in headphones sold for home use. In the project, the student will review the different configurations of active suppressors used in aerospace systems, the models used for the design and the performance of the suppressers. Optionally the student will solve a simplified model to beef up his/her analysis of the noise suppression. Ejector seat dynamics Ejector seat today is a crucial item in jet fighters. However, its design is still a major engineering task. In the project the student is required to review existing ejector seat installations and their operations. Additionally, the student is required to carry out trajectory calculations using simple design formulas or simulations. Top of page Facilities Laboratory facilities The Whitehead Aeronautical Laboratory has excellent wind tunnel facilities related to the different aspects of aerospace engineering. This includes several low speed, transonic and supersonic wind tunnels. Wind tunnel facilities are complemented by measurement devices such as pressure probes, hot-wire anemometers, Laser Doppler Velocimeters, 3 and 6-components balance system for the direct measurement of force and moments, and state of the art Computer Based Data Acquisition and Processing System. Our experimental facilities also include the use of surface oil visualisation and the application of shear-sensitive liquid crystals for the detection of transitional flows. Real-Time Highly focussed schlieren system and standard colord schlieren system are being used for flow visualisation in high-speed flows. Computer facilities Sophisticated software is increasingly used to solve engineering design problems and our students have access to industry standard packages. These are supported by more than 350 personal computers and a range of UNIX workstations, dedicated data gathering and analysis computers. Because of the Department's excellent reputation in computational aerospace structures and computational aerodynamics, we have been awarded a substantial grant for a dual-cluster high performance parallel computer. This makes our department among the first academic centres in Europe to acquire such a high performance computing facilities. Another major activity in our department is design of aerospace structures and our experts work closely with Airbus industry, Eurocopter, NLR, EDAS and British Aerospace. Top of page Career opportunities A central concern to choosing a career is determining the potential for employment in that profession. During the early 1990's, government funding cutbacks and a recession in the commercial airline industry forced many aerospace corporations to consolidate and reduce their workforce. These factors also led to declining enrolments at aerospace engineering schools. In fact, decreases in enrolment actually outpaced workforce reductions. However, the downturn in the aerospace industry has ended. Current trends and projections indicate a very prosperous future for our industry. In fact almost all our last year MEng graduates were able to find jobs in industries such as Rolls-Royce, Air Bus, British Aerospace, Ford Car Industries and Ministry of Defence. See here some of our graduates now in leading aersospace and aviation positions, higher degrees and research projects, general engineering positions and engineering business positions. Overall employment prospects for Engineers are extremely good, with more than 98 per cent employed six months after graduation. Recent graduates who have started work in the Engineering industry started on annual salaries in the region of £19,000. You might expect, as a successful Engineer to be earning £30,000 to £35,000 between five and ten years after graduation. Top of page Industrial Links & Collaboration (Aerospace) The department has links and collaboration through its teaching and research activities with many of the leading Aerospace Industries and Agencies worldwide. They include: UK Airbus, UK Astrium BAe Systems British National Space Centre dstl (formerly DERA) QinetiQ (formerly DERA) Marshalls Aerospace Rolls-Royce plc Rutherford Appleton Laboratories SSTL Italy Alenia The Netherlands NLR European Space Agency (ESA) Germany Airbus Deutschland EDAS - DASA USA Boeing US Air Force Spain CASA EDAS CASA France Eurocopter EDAS Airbus Aerospatiale EDAS CCR