Advanced Aeronautical Engineering and Space Systems

Postgraduate Open Event

Join us online for our Postgraduate Open Event - Wednesday 26 October to find out more about our taught programmes and discover why you should study your Masters with us.

The module is an intensive research module that spans all three MSc semesters. It draws together the knowledge and skills from the taught component to address a research challenge of significant scope to be undertaken independently, under supervision. It focuses on the technical, project management and communication skills needed to successfully execute academic- and/or industry-oriented research. The project entails to apply research methods to solve original problems of fundamental or applied nature.

This is advanced module in computational modelling focusing on computational solids. Both finite element method and boundary element method are covered together with applications to medical, aero and mechanical engineering. Hands on experience in solving engineering problems using commercial packages is an important part of the module.

The use of mathematical models, numerical optimisation algothrims, heuristic search methods, metamodelling techniques, Design of Experiment and complex decision analysis methods for a wide range of engineering system and product design problems will be introduced. Examples and individual/group design projects will cover many areas of aerosapce, mechanical, chemical, and materials engineering problems.

This module is concerned with the design and performance of a typical aircraft. It covers mission based subsonic aircraft design methodology, areodynamic design, engine design, and noise in propeller and jet driven aircraft, structural design and materials selection.

The module introduces robotics as an integral part of modern automation, provides an introductory insight into the engineering design and application of robot manipulator systems. It also provides an understanding of kinematics, dynamics and trajectory planning of robotic manipulators, actuators and sensors, principles and roles in robotics. It introduces various aspects of robot modelling and control and problems encountered in robot programming and their remedies.

This is an advanced integrated MSc module consisting of the main topics that are of primary importance to aerospace vehicle flight control and flight simulation. The module aims at providing an in-depth understanding of the principles of flight control and aerospace vehicle simulation. Basic functions of aerospace and launch vehicle flight control systems synthesis and the kinematics and dynamics of flight simulation including pilot physiological modelling and human factors would be covered as part of the course. A student on the course can expect to gain design experience with the application of the numerical simulation of aerospace vehicle dynamics associated with a variety of such vehicles provided he/she completes all tutorial and the supplementary design exercises. He/she could also expect to gain experience in using the School's integrated flight simulation facility. On completing the course the student would be able to parametrically design and synthesise a typical aerospace vehicle control subsystem.

The module aims to provide an insight and understanding of, complex structural dynamic and aeroelastic phenomenon, by use of the standard bending-torsion vibration paradigm to model the aircraft wing. The module will provide a phenomenological understanding of aeroelastic problems such as control reversal, wing divergence and wing flutter and associated structural dynamic aspects. It will give qualitative understanding of the analytical models of the coupled rigid and flexible body dynamics of future aerospace structures and introduce the dynamics of highly flexible aircraft.

The module introduces students to the factors which influence spacecraft design and highlights the need for a systems engineering approach. The module will provide students with a suitable mathematical description of orbital motion in order to understand spacecraft trajectories about the earth and simplified techniques for planning interplanetary space missions. Underlying principles of all spacecraft propulsion technologies are described, with some detailed focus on electric propulsion.

This module introduces students to numerical analysis and computational methods for solving engineering fluid dynamic problems. It enables students to develop skills in programming and using CFD codes using modern computational techniques, including the properties of discretisations and their application to simple model equations. Aspects of modelling turbulence and microscale capillary flow are considered. The students will generate meshes, solve viscous flow problems and perform the analysis of the quality of the simulations.

This module reviews fundamentals of thermodynamics and introduces compressible flows and moves towards more advanced topics in compressible flows. Oblique shock waves, expansion waves, shock-expansion theory, wave interactions and wave drag will be discussed. Design of the supersonic inlets and nozzles in aircraft and rocket propulsion including method of characteristics, design of high speed test facilities including shock tubes will be addressed. Effects of heat and friction on gas flows. Design aspects of high speed aeroplanes and viscous effects will be discussed and analysed including fundamentals of hypersonic flows and high temperature gas dynamics.