OVERVIEW
OVERVIEW

The BSc in Aerospace Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of ABET, www.abet.org, under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Aerospace and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.

A BSc in Aerospace Engineering program lays the foundation for the core aerospace engineering discipline while engaging students to study and understand how engineering fits within the overall global aerospace and space-related profession and industry.

Principles of science and engineering are applied to design and analysis of flight vehicles and related aerospace systems in well-designed course sequences to ensure that students gain hands on experience in developing flight vehicles from concept to design, including the fabrication and testing processes. Using advanced computer modeling and simulations, as well as hands-on laboratories and real-life projects, students are equipped with the tools to contribute immediately and effectively to the aerospace and the blooming space industries in UAE and the region.

Program Enrollment and Degree Data
Program Educational Objectives
  • Graduates will meet the expectations of employers of aerospace engineers.
  • Qualified graduates will pursue advanced study if they so desire.
Program Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with a BSc in Aerospace Engineering will attain the following:

(1)

An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.

(2)

An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.

(3)

An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.

(4)

An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.

(5)

An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.

(6)

An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.

(7)

An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Employment Opportunities

Our program graduated Aerospace Engineers who are working in one of the following fields:

  • Aviation Industries
  • Air Carriers
  • Space Industries
  • Defense and Security Sectors
  • Research Centers
Career Specialization

The intent of our program is to prepare our graduates to work and learn in a professional environment as:

  • Systems Engineering
  • Robotics Software
  • Testing
  • Design and Innovation
  • Computational Analysis
  • Project Management
  • Research and Development

 

Program Facilities

The Aerospace Engineering Program laboratories include:

  • Computer-Aided Design Laboratory
  • Mechanics of Solids Laboratory
  • Material Testing Laboratory
  • Aerodynamics Laboratory
  • Dynamic Systems/ Vibrations Laboratory
  • Space Dynamics Laboratory
  • Thermodynamics Laboratory
  • Composites Manufacturing Laboratory
  • Aircraft Design Lab
  • 3D Printing Workshop
  • GNC and Avionics Lab

 

 

Professional Chapters

AIAA Student Chapter

The objectives of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) student chapter is to promote the profession of aerospace engineering through organized activities in the

areas of academic study and research, and to offer quality engineering experiences that cannot be obtained in the classroom environment

The goal of the University AIAA student chapter is:

  • To promote aerospace engineering to students.
  • To establish links between students and aerospace companies through a series of industrial trips.
  • To encourage students to participate in AIAA competitions, such as the design build and fly competition.

Chapter membership is open to both undergraduate and graduate students from the Khalifa University of Science and Technology. Any student who is enrolled as a student in aerospace engineering or in any graduate-level degree program is eligible for membership of the chapter.

STRUCTURE
Course Descriptions

Course Description of Aerospace Engineering

AERO 200                            Statics (3-0-3)

*(Cross listed with CIVE 200; MEEN 200)

Prerequisite:      PHYS 121

 

A vector treatment of force systems and their resultants: equilibrium of trusses, beams, frames, and machines, including internal forces and three-dimensional configurations, static friction, properties of areas, and distributed loads and hydrostatics.

 

AERO 201                            Engineering Dynamics (3-0-3)

*(Cross listed with CIVE 201; MEEN 201)

Prerequisite:      AERO 200

Co-requisites:    MATH 204; MATH 206

 

This course introduces rectilinear and curvilinear motion of particles and rigid bodies, kinematics and kinetics of particles and rigid bodies, rotational and translational motion of rigid bodies, principle of work and energy, and principle of impulse and momentum in particles and rigid body dynamics.

               

AERO 215                           Introduction to Aerospace Engineering (2-3-3)

Prerequisite:      ENGR 111

Co-requisite:      AERO 200

 

Introduction to the field of aerospace engineering, basic aerospace systems and disciplines, and a working vocabulary of the field; demonstration of conceptual design through examples.

 

AERO 225                            Mechanics of Solids (3-3-4)

*(Cross listed with MEEN 325 and CIVE 225)

Prerequisite:      AERO 200

 

The course is an introduction to the mechanics of deformable solids applied to basic engineering structures. It covers the concepts of stress and strain at a point; deformation of axial members; symmetric and unsymmetric bending of elastic and elastic-perfectly plastic beams; torsion of open and closed section; beam deflection; stress and strain transformations, and elastic buckling of columns.

 

AERO 240                          Thermofluids for Aerospace Engineering (3-2-4)

Prerequisite:      PHYS 121, CHEM 115

 

This course introduces the students to the concepts of fluids, energy, and entropy. The fundamentals of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer are introduced. The conservation axioms of mass, momentum, and energy are described and discussed in integral form. Emphasis is placed on employing these concepts to analyze steady-flow engineering applications.

 

AERO 320                            Aerospace Materials (3-0-3)

Prerequisite:      PHYS 121

 

Materials (metals, alloys, polymers) in engineering service; relationship of inter-atomic bonding, crystal structure and defect structure (vacancies, dislocations) to material properties; polymers, ceramics, composites, phase diagrams and alloys; microstructure control (heat treatment) and mechanical properties; material failure; corrosion.

 

AERO 321                            Aerospace Structures (3-0-3)

Prerequisite:      AERO 225

 

Basic concept of the design/failure criteria for aerospace structures, advanced strength of materials analysis of elastic structures, materials selection, structural assemblies, vibration and bending of plates and beams and analysis of aircraft skin structures.

 

AERO 335                            Aerodynamics I (3-3-4)

Prerequisites:    MATH 231; AERO 215   

 

Introduction to aerodynamics; conservation equations (integral and differential forms) for mass, momentum, and energy; potential flow; irrotational versus rotational flow; airfoil and wing analysis; boundary layers on plates and airfoils.

 

AERO 336                            Aerodynamics II (3-0-3)

Prerequisites:    AERO 240; AERO 335

 

Introduction to compressible flows. Compressibility effects on airfoil and wing aerodynamics. Normal Shock Waves. Oblique Shock and Expansion Waves. Compressible Flow through Nozzles, Diffusers, and Wind Tunnels. Subsonic Compressible Flow over Airfoils: Linear Theory, Linearized Supersonic Flow. Elements of Hypersonic Flow.

 

AERO 350                            Dynamic Systems and Control (3-3-4)

Prerequisites:    MATH 204; MATH 206; AERO 201, PHYS 122

 

Mathematical modeling of mechanical, electrical, and non-engineering systems; basic concepts in dynamic systems analysis – equilibrium, stability, linearization; mechanical vibrations: free and forced vibration of single degree of freedom systems, transient and steady state response, resonance, free vibration of two degree of freedom systems; control systems: basics of feedback control, transfer functions and block diagrams, design specifications based on step response, PID control, employing Matlab in modeling and response analysis of dynamical systems, applications.

 

AERO 391                            Independent Study I (Variable course credits from 1 to 3)

Prerequisite:      Approval of department and junior standing

 

This course gives an upper level undergraduate student the opportunity to participate in an individual or group project, study, or research activity under the supervision of a faculty member.  A formal report is required.

 

AERO 395                            Special Topics in Aerospace Engineering  (1 to 3 credits)

Prerequisite:      Topic specific

 

This course mainly deals with new trends in Aerospace Engineering and emerging technologies. Course is repeatable if title and content differ.

 

AERO 401                            UAV Modeling and Control (3-0-3)

Prerequisites:    MEEN 300 or (AERO/MEEN 201 & AERO 350/MEEN 356)

 

The course covers the theory and practice of the modeling and control of UAV systems. The key topics of this course include: the first-principles modeling and simulation of fixed-wing and rotorcraft UAVs, flight dynamics modeling via system identification, on-board flight control system design, and control performance tuning of the auto-pilot system. 

 

AERO 415                            Aerospace Materials Manufacturing (3-0-3)

Prerequisites:    AERO 225; AERO 220

 

Aerospace materials and manufacturing; properties and processing of polymers, composites and metal alloys. Analysis of selected manufacturing processes including injection molding, extrusion, liquid composites molding, autoclave, out of autoclave, and metal manufacturing processes. Discussions will be presented on important material properties that influence different manufacturing processes.

 

AERO 426                            Composite Materials Design – TE (3-0-3)

Prerequisite:      AERO 225/ MEEN 325/ CIVE 225

 

Overview of the reinforcements of composites, typical mechanical behavior of constituents and their properties, overview of manufacturing processes of composites, constitutive equation of linear elastic orthotropic materials, macro-mechanics of lamina, micro-mechanics of lamina, design principles of laminates, linear elastic analysis of composite beams, plates and stiffened panels, failure theories and strength analysis of a lamina.

 

AERO 431                            Viscous Flows (3-0-3)

Prerequisite:      AERO 336

 

Viscous incompressible fluid flows. Topics include derivation of equations governing viscous compressible fluid motion; specializations to simple flows; boundary-layer theory; similarity solutions; introduction to turbulence and Reynolds stresses.

 

AERO 433                            Introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics (2-3-3)

Prerequisite:      AERO/MEEN 335

 

The course provides the students with an introduction to the methods and analysis techniques used in computational solutions of fluid mechanics and aerodynamics problems. Model problems are used to study the interaction of physical processes and numerical techniques via computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software. The student will use the CFD techniques to solve some real world problems.

 

AERO 435                            Rotorcraft Aerodynamics and Performance (3-0-3)

Prerequisite:      AERO 335

 

Rotorcraft history and fundamentals. Momentum theory: hover, axial climb and descent, autorotation, forward flight, momentum theory for coaxial and tandem rotors. Blade element analysis. Rotor airfoil aerodynamics. Rotor blade dynamics and trim. Helicopter performance, height-velocity curves, conceptual design. High-speed rotorcraft.

 

AERO 440                            Aerospace Propulsion (3-0-3)

Prerequisite:      AERO 336

 

The mechanics and thermodynamics of aerospace propulsion systems including cycle analysis. Component analysis and operating principles of turbojet, turbofan, and other variations of air breathing aircraft propulsion units. Introduction to the operating principles of rocket and space propulsion units.

 

AERO 441                            Introduction to Combustion (3-0-3)

Prerequisite:      AERO/MEEN 240

 

Introduction to fuel types and classification, gas phase mixtures, combustion process and combustion thermodynamics. Emphasis on chemical equilibrium, chemical kinetics, and modeling of reacting fluid mechanical systems. Integration of these tools into the understanding and analyzing detonation phenomenon and laminar premixed and non-premixed flames.

 

AERO 450                            Flight Dynamics and Stability (3-0-3)

Prerequisites:    AERO 335; AERO 350

 

Introduction and nomenclature, forces and moments acting on an aircraft during flight (straight and maneuver), inertial and non-inertial coordinate systems, longitudinal static stability, static margin, and trim settings, lateral static stability, directional static stability, derivation and linearization of the equations of motion of rigid aircraft in six degrees of freedom equations of motion solution, longitudinal and lateral-directional flight dynamics modes, dynamic stability, flying/handling qualities, aircraft response to different inputs, feedback control, and stability augmentation.

 

AERO 461                            Aviation Management and Airworthiness – TE (3-0-3)

Prerequisite:      Senior standing

 

Product development, quality assurance, quality control and quality management, different organizational structures, strategic organizational analysis and design models. Airworthiness and certification, airworthiness regulations (FAR, JAR and EASA), type certification processes (EASA and FAA), civil aviation authorities and their roles, airplane flight manual, system design and safety, aviation security, and future trends in the aviation industry.

 

AERO 465                            Space Dynamics and Control (2-3-3)

Prerequisite:      AERO 350

 

Basic concepts of orbital mechanics with application to satellites: keplerian motion, orbital elements, orbital transfer and fundamentals of state space control. Basic concepts of spacecraft attitude dynamics: three-dimensional rigid-body kinematics, stability and dynamics of symmetric and tri-inertial bodies, disturbance effects and attitude determination and control.

 

AERO 470                            Aircraft Design Laboratory (0-6-3)

Prerequisites:    AERO 225; AERO 335; AERO 350

 

Aircraft design principles blending synthesis, analysis and test. The iterative nature of the design process. Elements of aircraft performance calculation and optimization. Extensive, design oriented laboratory experiments performed by student teams. Focus is on student design and realization of experimental procedure, instrumentation, and data acquisition and analysis, with extensive laboratory reports.

 

AERO 480                            Aerospace Vehicle Performance (3-0-3)

Co-requisite:      AERO 440

 

Morphology of aircraft and spacecraft. Performance analysis of fixed wing aircraft: drag estimation, propulsion, take-off, climb and landing, endurance, payload/range, maneuvers; operational economics. Performance analysis of rotor craft: rotor-blade motion, hovering and vertical ascent, forward flight, and autorotation. Rocket propulsion; escape velocity; orbital dynamics.

 

AERO 485                            Spacecraft Design (3-0-3)

Prerequisite:      AERO 350

 

Types of spacecraft. Fundamentals of orbital mechanics. The design of spacecraft and spacecraft subsystems with emphasis on mission requirements and current design methods: spacecraft configuration, payload, structural, propulsion, attitude control, thermal, power, communication and other related subsystems. Spacecraft integration and testing.

 

AERO 491                            Independent Study II (Variable course credits from 1 to 3)

Prerequisite:      Approval of department and senior standing

 

This course gives an upper level undergraduate student the opportunity to participate in an individual or group project, study, or research activity under the supervision of a faculty member.  A formal report is required. 

 

AERO 495                            Special Topics in Aerospace Engineering

Prerequisite:      Topic specific

 

This course mainly deals with new trends in Aerospace Engineering and emerging technologies. Course is repeatable if title and content differ.

 

AERO 497                            Senior Design Project I (1-6-3)

Prerequisite:      Senior Standing and approval of department

 

Participation in team projects dealing with design and development of a product or a system, in accordance with project-specific objectives and constraints. Number of projects will be offered by the different engineering departments, some of which will be multi-disciplinary in nature. This will provide an opportunity to exercise initiative, engineering judgment, self-reliance and creativity, in a team environment similar to the industry environment. The design projects require students to use engineering standards in their design process, developing suitable criteria for selection based on their acquired engineering skills, experience, and other pertinent resources. Oral and written presentations are required.

 

AERO 498                            Senior Design Project II (0-9-3)

Prerequisite:      AERO 497

Continuation of AERO 497

TYPICAL STUDY SEQUENCE