Course Title: Introduction to Fixed Wing and Rotary Wing Aerodynamics

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Introduction to Fixed Wing and Rotary Wing Aerodynamics

Credit Points: 12.00


Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)


Course Coordinator: Amir Zokaei

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 4184

Course Coordinator Email: Amir.fard@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 57.5.20


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Pre-requisite Capabilities
The student must have successfully completed courses MATH2167 – Mathematics 1 and MANU2112 – Engineering Science or equivalent courses, or provide evidence of equivalent capabilities.


Course Description

This course introduces the student to rotary and fixed wing aerodynamic principles in subsonic and high speed flight applicable to engineering and the physical/external factors that affect aerodynamics.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Students will gain or improve capabilities in:
Technical Competence:
• TC1: knowledge in aerodynamic principles and factors that effect fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft in all facets of flight.
• TC3: : in relation to rotary and fixed wing aircraft, identify features of aerodynamic components, characteristics and stability and compare possible structures and configurations with established theory of aerodynamic principles.
Integrative perspective:
• IP1: students will learn to use the fundamental skills in engineering problem solving to analyse aerodynamic principles taking into account external and internal forces that affect these principles.



On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
• explain the principles of operation relating to aerofoils and lift,
• describe the effects and applicability of the terms and conditions relating to airflow,
• measure and interpret the pressure distribution around aerofoils and aerodynamic forces at subsonic airflow,
• assess factors that affect an aircrafts stability and control in subsonic and high speed flight,
• describe and perform calculations in regards to factors affecting flight such as lift, drag, thrust and power, and
• define specific aeronautical terms and conditions relating to rotary and fixed wing flight.


Overview of Learning Activities

The learning activities included in this course are:
• attendance at lectures where syllabus material will be presented and explained, and the subject will be demonstrated with calculations and examples of airflow through wind tunnels and the like;
• completion of tutorial questions and possibly workshop projects designed to give further practice in the application of aerodynamic theory to given situations, and to give feedback on student progress and understanding;
• completion of written assignments consisting of numerical calculations and other factors requiring an integrated understanding of the subject matter; and
• private study, working through the course as presented in classes, information gathered from practical demonstrations and learning materials, and gaining practice at solving conceptual and numerical calculations.


Overview of Learning Resources

Students will be able to access course information and learning materials through the Learning Hub (also known as online@RMIT) and will be provided with copies of additional materials in class. Lists of relevant reference texts, resources in the library and freely accessible Internet sites will be provided. Students will also use laboratory equipment and computers within the School during project and assignment work.


Overview of Assessment

The assessment for this course comprises of a mixture of written assignments, projects and reports, progress tests, practical assessments and a final exam in either short answer, multi choice or a mixture of the two.