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AERO5410: Foundations of Aerospace Design (2014 - Semester 1)

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Unit: AERO5410: Foundations of Aerospace Design (6 CP)
Mode: Normal-Day
On Offer: Yes
Level: Postgraduate
Faculty/School: School of Aerospace, Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering
Unit Coordinator/s: Dr Auld, Douglass
Session options: Semester 1
Versions for this Unit:
Site(s) for this Unit: http://www.aeromech.usyd.edu.au/AERO5410/
Campus: Camperdown/Darlington
Pre-Requisites: None.
Brief Handbook Description: This unit aims to introduce students to the theory and practice of aircraft structural component design. In doing so it will emphasize all the considerations, trade-offs and decisions inherent in this process and thus enable students to gain an understanding of why aircraft structures are designed in the way they are with respect to structural, manufacturing and cost considerations.

At the end of this unit students will be able to understand the design process, especially as it applies to aircraft structural component design; Have a familiarity with some of the practice of aircraft component structural design; An increasing familiarity with typical aircraft structural paradigms and how they work and can be analysed along with the primary failure modes that need to be considered; An understanding of the importance of different failure modes for different components and how these relate to load-conditions and understanding of some off the legal and ethical requirements of aircraft design engineers; A basic understanding of the regulatory framework in which aircraft design is conducted.
Assumed Knowledge: Mathematics, Physics and Solid Mechanics assumed knowledge at the level of Bachelor of Engineering, Science or equivalent.
Lecturer/s: Dr Auld, Douglass
Timetable: AERO5410 Timetable
Time Commitment:
# Activity Name Hours per Week Sessions per Week Weeks per Semester
1 Lecture 2.00 2 13
2 Project Work - in class 3.00 1 12
3 Project Work - own time 4.00
T&L Activities: Project Work - in class: 3 hr workgroup session to concentrate on the design problems specified in the assignments.

Project Work - own time: Students must work on the assignment design projects during the week independently of scheduled sessions to complete the work required.

Attributes listed here represent the key course goals (see Course Map tab) designated for this unit. The list below describes how these attributes are developed through practice in the unit. See Learning Outcomes and Assessment tabs for details of how these attributes are assessed.

Attribute Development Method Attribute Developed
This unit of study sets students a group of design projects. Students must complete designs given initial specifications and design requirements. Design (Level 4)
Each design project will require Engineering analysis using basic tools of structural analysis and materials selection to set standards. Maths/Science Methods and Tools (Level 3)
While initial specifications are given, to obtain the final design outcomes students will be required to undertake library, internet or similar research to collect the required information to complete the project. Information Seeking (Level 3)
Each project is related to an aerospace industry case study and must be performed to certification standards required by industry. Professional Conduct (Level 3)

For explanation of attributes and levels see Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table.

Learning outcomes are the key abilities and knowledge that will be assessed in this unit. They are listed according to the course goal supported by each. See Assessment Tab for details how each outcome is assessed.

Design (Level 4)
1. Ability to determine the limit and ultimate cases that are appropriate for athe design of an aerospace industry component.
2. Ability to invent or construct solutions to design problems and prove the appropriateness of these solutions
3. Ability to manage all aspects of a detailed design project including costing and manufacturing issues.
Maths/Science Methods and Tools (Level 3)
4. Skills in analysing the loads, load paths, stresses and reactions for complex 3-D frame structures.
5. Ability to make an informed choice of materials appropriate to the design.
Information Seeking (Level 3)
6. Skills in sorting through an interpreting large amounts of information and selecting items and methods appropriate to the specifications of a design.
Professional Conduct (Level 3)
7. Ability to apply and interpret current certification rules for construction of Aerospace components.
Assessment Methods:
# Name Group Weight Due Week Outcomes
1 Project No 20.00 Week 5 1, 2, 4, 6,
2 Project No 5.00 Week 7 3, 5, 6,
3 Project No 20.00 Week 10 1, 2, 4, 5, 7,
4 Project No 10.00 Week 13 2, 3, 5, 6, 7,
5 Quiz No 45.00 Multiple Weeks 1, 2, 4, 5, 7,
Assessment Description: Project: Design of a modification or component to be used in a light aircraft or helicopter.

Assignment: Select materials to optimise weight of a specific component of the first design project.

Project: Design of a 3-D space frame structure to suit specific loading conditions.

Assignment: Design of attachment or mounting components for an aerospace design, including costing and manufacturing issues.

Quiz: Four Quizzes related to each of the projects.
Grading:
Grade Type Description
Standards Based Assessment Final grades in this unit are awarded at levels of HD for High Distinction, DI (previously D) for Distinction, CR for Credit, PS (previously P) for Pass and FA (previously F) for Fail as defined by University of Sydney Assessment Policy. Details of the Assessment Policy are available on the Policies website at http://sydney.edu.au/policies . Standards for grades in individual assessment tasks and the summative method for obtaining a final mark in the unit will be set out in a marking guide supplied by the unit coordinator.
Policies & Procedures: See the policies page of the faculty website at http://sydney.edu.au/engineering/student-policies/ for information regarding university policies and local provisions and procedures within the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies.

Note that the "Weeks" referred to in this Schedule are those of the official university semester calendar https://web.timetable.usyd.edu.au/calendar.jsp

Week Description
Week 1 Introduction to Design methods and certification requirements.
Week 2 Lectures and work sessions related to Project 1
Week 3 Lectures and work sessions related to Project 1
Week 4 Lectures and work sessions related to Project 1
Week 5 Lectures and work sessions related to Project 1
Assessment Due: Project
Week 6 Aerospace Materials and their properties.
Week 7 Lectures and work sessions related to Project 2
Assessment Due: Project
Week 8 Lectures and work sessions related to Project 2
Week 9 Lectures and work sessions related to Project 2
Week 10 Lectures and work sessions related to Project 2
Assessment Due: Project
Week 11 Lectures and work sessions related to Final Assignment
Week 12 Lectures and work sessions related to Final Assignment
Week 13 Lectures and work sessions related to Final Assignment
Assessment Due: Project

Course Relations

The following is a list of courses which have added this Unit to their structure.

Course Year(s) Offered
Master of Professional Engineering (Aerospace) 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

Course Goals

This unit contributes to the achievement of the following course goals:

Attribute Practiced Assessed
Design (Level 4) Yes 40.25%
Maths/Science Methods and Tools (Level 3) Yes 35.5%
Information Seeking (Level 3) Yes 8.75%
Professional Conduct (Level 3) Yes 15.5%

These goals are selected from Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table which defines overall goals for courses where this unit is primarily offered. See Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table for details of the attributes and levels to be developed in the course as a whole. Percentage figures alongside each course goal provide a rough indication of their relative weighting in assessment for this unit. Note that not all goals are necessarily part of assessment. Some may be more about practice activity. See Learning outcomes for details of what is assessed in relation to each goal and Assessment for details of how the outcome is assessed. See Attributes for details of practice provided for each goal.