Aeronautical Engineering Course

Lesson 1 • Mathematics for Aerospace Applications

Covers calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations as tools for modelling flight phenomena. Connects mathematical abstraction to physical aerospace systems.

Lesson 2 • Thermodynamics for Propulsion

Covers thermodynamic laws, cycles, and gas properties critical to engine performance analysis. Establishes enthalpy and entropy concepts used throughout propulsion chapters.

Lesson 3 • Classical Mechanics and Dynamics

Applies Newton's laws, energy methods, and rigid-body dynamics to aircraft components. Provides the mechanical foundation for structural and propulsion analysis.

Lesson 4 • Introduction to Fluid Mechanics

Introduces fluid properties, hydrostatics, and the continuum hypothesis essential for aerodynamics. Bridges classical mechanics to compressible and incompressible flow regimes.

Lesson 1 • Finite Wing Theory and Induced Drag

Extends 2D airfoil results to 3D wings using lifting-line theory and span efficiency. Quantifies induced drag and its dependence on aspect ratio and taper.

Lesson 2 • Computational Aerodynamic Methods

Introduces CFD workflow, mesh generation, and solver selection for aerodynamic simulation. Validates computational results against wind tunnel benchmarks.

Lesson 3 • Incompressible Flow Over Airfoils

Applies thin-airfoil theory and panel methods to predict lift and moment coefficients. Connects potential flow solutions to real viscous effects near stall.

Lesson 4 • Airfoil Geometry and Nomenclature

Defines chord, camber, thickness, and leading-edge radius as design parameters. Establishes geometric vocabulary used in all subsequent aerodynamic analysis.

Lesson 5 • Boundary Layer and Viscous Effects

Analyses laminar-to-turbulent transition, skin friction, and separation to quantify viscous drag. Links boundary layer behaviour to airfoil and fuselage drag prediction.

Lesson 1 • Buckling and Stability of Panels

Determines critical buckling loads for columns, plates, and stiffened panels under compression. Applies post-buckling reserve strength concepts to lightweight airframe design.

Lesson 2 • Fatigue and Damage Tolerance

Applies S-N curves, fracture mechanics, and crack growth models to airframe life prediction. Links inspection intervals to damage tolerance certification requirements.

Lesson 3 • Bending and Shear in Beams

Analyses bending moments, shear forces, and deflections in wing spars and fuselage frames. Connects beam theory to real airframe cross-section design.

Lesson 4 • Stress and Strain in Aerospace Structures

Extends material mechanics to multi-axial stress states and principal stress analysis. Provides the analytical basis for all subsequent structural sizing tasks.

Lesson 1 • Equations of Motion for Aircraft

Derives 6-DOF equations of motion in body and wind axes for symmetric and asymmetric flight. Establishes the mathematical framework for all performance and stability analyses.

Lesson 2 • Steady Level Flight and Drag Polar

Determines minimum drag speed, power required, and thrust-to-weight ratio for level flight. Connects drag polar to fuel consumption and engine matching.

Lesson 3 • Range, Endurance, and Fuel Planning

Applies Breguet equations to predict range and endurance for jet and propeller aircraft. Integrates fuel burn models with mission segment analysis.

Lesson 4 • Climb, Ceiling, and Glide Performance

Calculates rate of climb, service ceiling, and best glide ratio using energy methods. Applies excess power concept to optimise climb schedules.

Lesson 1 • Static Longitudinal Stability

Determines neutral point, static margin, and pitching moment derivatives for tail-configured aircraft. Links centre-of-gravity range to pitch stability requirements.

Lesson 2 • Lateral-Directional Static Stability

Analyses dihedral effect, directional stability, and adverse yaw for coordinated flight. Connects fin sizing and wing geometry to lateral-directional derivatives.

Lesson 3 • Control Surface Design and Effectiveness

Quantifies elevator, aileron, and rudder effectiveness using hinge moment and control power derivatives. Sizes control surfaces to meet manoeuvre and trim requirements.

Lesson 4 • Dynamic Longitudinal Modes

Characterises phugoid and short-period modes using linearised state-space models. Evaluates damping ratios and natural frequencies against handling quality criteria.

Lesson 1 • Propeller and Turboprop Performance

Applies blade element momentum theory to predict propeller thrust, torque, and efficiency. Matches propeller pitch and diameter to turboprop engine output.

Lesson 2 • Gas Turbine Engine Cycle Analysis

Applies component-by-component thermodynamic analysis to turbojet and turbofan cycles. Quantifies the effect of bypass ratio and turbine inlet temperature on performance.

Lesson 3 • Inlets, Nozzles, and Diffusers

Designs subsonic and supersonic inlets for pressure recovery and nozzle geometries for thrust optimisation. Analyses shock systems in mixed-compression inlets.

Lesson 4 • Propulsion Fundamentals and Thrust Equation

Derives the generalised thrust equation from momentum theory for air-breathing engines. Establishes specific thrust, TSFC, and propulsive efficiency as performance metrics.

Lesson 1 • Configuration Selection and Layout

Evaluates conventional, canard, blended-wing-body, and flying-wing configurations against mission drivers. Produces three-view drawings with major dimension estimates.

Lesson 2 • Preliminary Structural Sizing

Estimates wing spar, fuselage frame, and skin thickness using simplified load paths and design limit loads. Checks structural weight against conceptual weight budget.

Lesson 3 • Conceptual Sizing and Weight Estimation

Applies statistical weight fractions and Raymer-style methods to estimate takeoff gross weight. Iterates fuel fraction and empty weight fraction to close the design.

Lesson 4 • Aerodynamic and Propulsion Integration

Matches wing area, engine thrust, and high-lift system to takeoff, cruise, and landing constraints. Verifies performance closure against mission requirements.

Lesson 1 • Electrical Power Systems

Sizes generators, batteries, and distribution buses for normal and emergency electrical loads. Applies load analysis to verify power margin across all flight phases.

Lesson 2 • Hydraulic and Pneumatic Systems

Designs hydraulic circuits for landing gear, brakes, and flight controls using pressure and flow analysis. Evaluates pneumatic bleed air systems for anti-icing and pressurisation.

Lesson 3 • Safety Analysis and Airworthiness

Applies functional hazard assessment, fault tree analysis, and FMEA to demonstrate system safety. Maps failure conditions to probability targets required by airworthiness standards.

Lesson 4 • Navigation and Avionics Integration

Covers inertial navigation, GNSS, and sensor fusion for position and attitude determination. Integrates avionics into a federated or integrated modular architecture.