Note: This unit is an archived version! See Overview tab for delivered versions.
AERO1400: Introduction to Aircraft Construction and Design (2011 - Semester 2)
| Unit: | AERO1400: Intro to Aircraft Construction and Design (6 CP) |
| Mode: | Normal-Day |
| On Offer: | Yes |
| Level: | Junior |
| Faculty/School: | School of Aerospace, Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering |
| Unit Coordinator/s: |
Dr Wong, KC
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| Session options: | Semester 2 |
| Versions for this Unit: | |
| Site(s) for this Unit: |
http://www.aeromech.usyd.edu.au/AERO1400/ |
| Campus: | Camperdown/Darlington |
| Pre-Requisites: | None. |
| Brief Handbook Description: | The study towards BE(Aeronautical) involves learning about the Design, Analysis, Flight, and Operation of Aircraft and other Flight Platforms. This unit facilitates the training towards becoming professional aeronautical engineers through a globally-unique experiential-learning opportunity to provide a strong background familiarity with aircraft hardware. This unit is designed to educate and facilitate the learning of aircraft design, basic aircraft construction techniques, the operation of light aircraft and the registration and regulations relating to light aircraft. In addition to hands-on skills on the construction phase, this unit facilitates learning in motivations for unique aircraft design, aircraft aerodynamics, flight mechanics, structural aspects and other design-related issues. Teamwork plays a very important role in this unit; the ability to work with peers and supervising staff is an invaluable skill sought after by employers of engineers. Throughout the semester, students will be actively participating in the construction of a light aircraft and the manufacturing of typical airframe components. The aircraft is to be constructed under current Australian Civil Aviation Regulations so that students will gain an insight into all aspects of the process. The manufacturing of airframe components will provide experiential learning in aircraft production processes. By being a part of the construction team, students will also experience the organisational requirements necessary to successfully complete a complex engineering project. The aircraft construction workshop component is complemented with lectures, homework, research and assignments to further enhance the learning experience on aircraft. The final outcome will be that students gain a good foundation of: aircraft design and analyses methods; innovative methods of construction; techniques for selecting, sizing and stressing components; regulatory requirements for certification; off-design requirements; construction tolerances; and team-work requirements in undertaking complex engineering projects. |
| Assumed Knowledge: | Some basic skills with engineering workshop hand tools is desirable. |
| Additional Notes: | Department permission required for enrollment. |
| Lecturer/s: |
Dr Wong, KC
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| Timetable: | AERO1400 Timetable | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Time Commitment: |
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| T&L Activities: | Laboratory: Practical Session Independent Study: Homework, research, and assignments |
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 |
| Students are expected to be able to make basic design decisions based on operational and/or manufacturing requirements through various exercises and assignments. | Design and Problem Solving Skills (Level 1) |
| Experiential learning opportunities while constructing the aircraft to provide familiarity with aircraft components and applied design of aircraft. Aircraft and flight platforms are a key focus of professional aeronautical engineering. | Discipline Specific Expertise (Level 2) |
| Students are required to perform basic flight performance analysis based on fundamental physics. These analyses are related to physical design parameters on typical aircraft. | Fundamentals of Science and Engineering (Level 1) |
| Students are required to undertake research into various relevant aircraft related topics, utilising library and internet resources. | Information Skills (Level 2) |
| Proper documentation is a very important aspect of meeting regulatory and certification requirements for aircraft. This is facilitaed through report writing on relevant aviation regulations, and the keeping of clear and concise logbooks for practical work undertaken while constructing the aircraft throughout the semester. Students are also required to read engineering drawings for the manufacturing of airframe components. | Professional Communication (Level 2) |
| All practical work done on the aircraft has to satisfy strict regulatory requirements of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Australia, which all professional aeronautical engineers need to be familiar with. | Professional Values, Judgement and Conduct (Level 2) |
| Under supervision, students work in small teams constructing a light aircraft and the manufacturing of airframe components. Everyone in turn, takes on team leadership responsibilities to manage the weekly tasks, as well as managing the workflow of team members. | Teamwork and Project Management (Level 2) |
For explanation of attributes and levels see Engineering/IT Graduate Attribute Matrix 2009.
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 and Problem Solving Skills (Level 1)
1. Understanding of the concepts of aircraft configuration and its influence on flight performance.
Discipline Specific Expertise (Level 2)
2. Skills obtained through hands-on construction experience of aircraft components.
Information Skills (Level 2)
3. Ability to use information resources, including technical research papers, to understand the aircraft design process.
Professional Communication (Level 2)
4. Ability to create presentations for assignment submissions and to discuss and present information obtained via homework tasks
5. Ability to maintain a clear record of practical work completed through freehand sketches and descriptions in a logbook.
Professional Values, Judgement and Conduct (Level 2)
6. Familiarity with aviation regulations which promotes the safe design, manufacture and operation of aircraft.
Teamwork and Project Management (Level 2)
7. Ability to work as a team member to complete the progressive assembly of a kitplane and the manufacturing of an aircraft sub-structure module.
| Assessment Methods: |
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| Assessment Description: |
Attendance: In-course practical workshop involvement Assignment: practical assignments Quiz: In class quizzes Log Book: Log books are updated after each practical session to sketch (freehand) and describe in detail all work undertaken (dated and signed by supervisor). Project Report: Homework tasks. Brief discussions on given papers and/or references are required. |
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| Grading: |
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| Policies & Procedures: | Policies regarding academic honesty and plagiarism, special consideration and appeals in the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies can be found on the Faculty's policy page at http://www.eng.usyd.edu.au/policies Faculty policies are governed by Academic Board resolutions whose details can be found on the Central Policy Online site at http://www.usyd.edu.au/policy/ Policies regarding assessment formatting, submission methods, late submission penalties and assessment feedback depend on the unit of study. Details of these policies, where applicable, should be found above with other assessment details. |
| Online Course Content: | http://www.aeromech.usyd.edu.au/AERO1400/ |
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 | Lectures: Enhancing the Aeronautical Engineering Learning Experience |
| Prac: Introduction to the aircraft construction project, workshop safety and facilities, and supervising staff. | |
| Week 2 | Lectures: Enhancing the Aeronautical Engineering Learning Experience; Introduction to Aircraft Design - Design Methodology |
| Prac: Aircraft Construction | |
| Week 3 | Prac: Aircraft Construction |
| Lectures: Introduction to Aircraft Design - Design Phases | |
| Week 4 | Lectures - Introduction to Aircraft Design - Aerodynamic Forces |
| Prac: Aircraft Construction | |
| Week 5 | Lectures: Introduction to Aircraft Design - Design Information Retrieval |
| Assignment 1 due | |
| Prac: Aircraft Construction | |
| Week 6 | Lectures: Introduction to Aircraft Design - Relevant Regulations |
| Prac: Aircraft Construction | |
| Week 7 | Prac: Aircraft Construction |
| Lectures: Introduction to Aircraft Design - Configuration Options | |
| Week 8 | Lectures: Introduction to Aircraft Design - Configuration Options |
| Prac: Aircraft Construction | |
| Week 9 | Prac: Aircraft Construction |
| Lectures: Introduction to Aircraft Design - Case Study | |
| Week 10 | Prac: Aircraft Construction |
| Assignment 2 due | |
| Lectures: Introduction to Aircraft Design - Design Evaluations | |
| Week 11 | Lectures: Introduction to Aircraft Design - Design Technologies |
| Prac: Aircraft Construction | |
| Week 12 | Prac: Aircraft Construction |
| Lectures: Introduction to Aircraft Design - Design Technologies; Weight and Balance | |
| Week 13 | Lectures: Introduction to Aircraft Design - Summary and Design Challenges |
| Log-book due | |
| Assignment 3 due | |
| Prac: Conclusion of Aircraft Construction project |
Course Relations
The following is a list of courses which have added this Unit to their structure.
Course Goals
This unit contributes to the achievement of the following course goals:
| Attribute | Practiced | Assessed |
| Design and Problem Solving Skills (Level 1) | Yes | 25.92% |
| Discipline Specific Expertise (Level 2) | Yes | 17.17% |
| Fundamentals of Science and Engineering (Level 1) | Yes | 0% |
| Information Skills (Level 2) | Yes | 16.25% |
| Professional Communication (Level 2) | Yes | 18.42% |
| Professional Values, Judgement and Conduct (Level 2) | Yes | 19.25% |
| Teamwork and Project Management (Level 2) | Yes | 3% |
These goals are selected from Engineering/IT Graduate Attribute Matrix 2009 which defines overall goals for courses where this unit is primarily offered. See Engineering/IT Graduate Attribute Matrix 2009 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.
