Aerospace Engineering with a Year in Industry MEng

A short module to introduce students to the language and main concepts of the aerospace engineer to provide a solid basis for the remainder of their degree programme

This module aims to introduce students to the fundamental concepts and theory of how engineering structures work to sustain loads. It will also show how stress analysis leads to the design of safer structures. It will also provide students with the means to analyse and design basic structural elements as used in modern engineering structures.

This module aims to provide students with an early understanding of the preliminary design processes including engineering drawing/visualisation, data analysis, computer aided engineering. It includes a team project and develops report writing and oral presentation skills. It also introduces vital topics of engineering sustainability and engineering ethics. It develops student ability to reflect upon and record their learning and development.

To develop an understanding of the basic principles of fluid mechanics, the laws of thermodynamics, and an appreciation of how to solve simple engineering problems. To develop skills in performing and reporting simple experiments.

ENGG198 is a Year 1 mathematics module for students of programmes taught in the School of Engineering, e.g. Aerospace, Civil, Architectural, Mechanical, Product Design and Industrial Design Engineering. It is designed to reinforce and build upon A-level (or equivalent) mathematics, providing you with the strong background required in your engineering studies and preparing you for Year 2 mathematics modules.

Students completing the module should be able to understand simple computer programs and write their own simple MATLAB programs to solve problems and process data as required by other modules and in engineering practice.
Students completing the module will be able to understand simple electrical circuits with passive and active components, mechanical (mass-spring-damper) systems and electromechanical systems (DC machines). They will learn basic mathematical, practical and computational methods for analysing and modelling these.

To provide students with a basic introduction to various classes of engineering materials, their mechanical properties, deformation and failure and how the properties structure and processing can be controlled to design materials with desired properties for various engineering applications.

This module covers the main technical aspects of gas turbine engines used on aircraft and other mechanical applications (e.g. power generation, marine). It covers many topics from the basic principles of aeroengines (e.g. production of thrust) through to the design of axial flow turbomachinery (compressors and turbines). An understanding of the principles of compressible flow is also developed. Students do a laboratory using the Virtual Engine Test Bench to explore aeroengine components, thermodynamics and performance. In addition, they use a commercial CFD package to perform a compressible flow simulation.

Aircraft design is a complex process and requires knowledge and skills in a number of topics, e.g. aerodynamics, structures, materials, flight mechanics and control. The module will look at these topics relating to the components of full aircraft, e.g. mass distribution, aerodynamic surface sizing, fuselage, landing gear, etc. This module explains the different stages of this multi-disciplinary process: Configuration Selection; Conceptual Design; Preliminary Design. The module describes each of these processes and provides analytical engineering tools to allow the students to complete a project to the Preliminary Design.

Dynamic systems are encountered in most engineering disciplines such as mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering. These systems require specific techniques to be analysed for design or monitoring purpose.

In this module, students will learn the main methods for analysing dynamic systems in time and frequency domains. They will learn how to solve dynamical problems, how to evaluate and control the stability, the accuracy and the rapidity of a dynamical system.

This module will be mainly delivered through class lectures and assessed through a final exam. Additionally, students will be taught some experimental techniques related to second-order dynamical systems through an assessed  laboratory work.​

The module focusses on the essentials of data analysis and interpretation, engineering experimentation, measurement techniques and principles of instrumentation.

Project Management is a core skill for professional engineers of all types and a sound education in this subject area is required by the professional accrediting bodies. The knowledge and skills developed in this module will equip students for their future UG project work and for their careers ahead.
This module teaches students the theory of fundamental techniques in project management, risk management, and cost management.

In this modules student undertake a group "virtual project" in which they undertake all stages of project management involved n a major construction projects. The five virtual project tasks require students to apply their theoretical learning; and they provide an opportunity to develop key professional skills.

This module aims to introduce students to techniques for load and displacement analysis of simple structures.

Engineering Mathematics and Computing will provide a fundamental understanding of mathematical techniques used to solve Engineering problems. Successful completion of this module will provide students with basic skills and solution methodologies (mathematical, and using MATLAB) for various engineering applications. The module will expose the essentials of numerical methods to solve systems of linear, non-linear, ordinary and partial differential equations. A series of classic engineering problems, such as trusses, mass-spring dampeners, 2D trajectory calculation, and 2D heat flow will place the acquired knowledge in an engineering context.

This module acquaints students with performance analysis of fixed-wing aircraft, including analysis of aircraft range and endurance, climb performance, and take-off and landing distance. Students will also learn about methods to analyse the static stability of fixed-wing aircraft in different conditions. To complement the study of fixed-wing aircraft, students will also learn about the anatomy and fundamental physics of conventional helicopters.

This module introduces the main processing and manufacturing techniques used to make metallic, ceramic, polymer and composite materials. The students will learn and appreciate how the microstructure and properties of materials are impacted by the processing methods. The students will also learn how to derive materials performance indices and select appropriate materials for a given situation.

This module is associated with the placement year of the ‘year in industry’ programme.  On accepting an approved offer, students spend a minimum of 40 weeks employed in a company/organisation.  Placements will be approved and arranged at places accessible to the individual student.  An academic mentor will be assigned to monitor and assess the student’s progress during placement.  This will involve at least one site visit and follow-up telephone call as well as checking that the student’s placement log is being kept up to date. The placement year should be a mutually beneficial experience for both student and employer. Students will be given opportunities and gain confidence to apply theories and technical skills learned in Years 1 and 2 of their studies in a real-time work environment.  Ideally (depending on the placement), these activities will be engineering/industry relevant and project (team) based extending over several months and will therefore provide opportunities to develop the student’s transferable skills and professional competence leading to enhanced employability.

The Aims of this module are as follows:

To introduce the student to various aspects of advanced modern management.

To develop a knowledge and understanding of modern management tools.

To stimulate an appreciation of management and its importance in organisational success.

Aircraft design is a complex process and requires knowledge and skills in a number of topics, e.g. aerodynamics, structures, materials, flight mechanics and control. Starting with a pre-completed customer brief, students on this course will build upon the methods of Year 2 Design course and proceed with an advanced Conceptual Design of the vehicle. This will include the use of analysis tools and the creation of a simple simulation model of the aircraft. The module will be taught largely in lecture format but is supported by pc-based laboratory support sessions.

Aerostructures for aerospace engineering

The module introduces key techniques and concepts used in the analysis of the trim, stability, and dynamic response characteristics of conventional fixed-wing aircraft.
Also introduced are a several important feedback control design methods, useful for modifying and improving aircraft stability and control characteristics, including Root Locus, Bode and Nyquist based design methods for PID control.
As part of the module, students will undertake a flight test course in the National Flying Laboratory Centre to assess the performance and stability qualities of a real aircraft in flight.

The Year 3 individual research project; 300 hours student work over 2 semesters; 3 assessment stages (proposal 5%, interim 20%, final 75%).

To provide students with an understanding of aerodynamic theories including hierarchy of aerodynamic models, basics of boundary layer theory, shock/expansion theory, potential flow theory, thin airfoil theory and the generation of lift, and finite-wing lifting line theory.

Finite element analysis and computational fluid dynamics tools have become ubiquitous in engineering practice to design trains, planes and automobiles, to analyse the structural mechanics of gears, shafts, bridges and skyscrapers and the fluid flow in power generation systems and in heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and many more applications. The module will provide students with the skills to use finite element analysis and computational fluid dynamics tools with confidence with an understanding of the underlying theory and technology, and limitations thereof.

The module will introduce the common types of rotorcraft configuration, and will cover the basic theory of helicopter performance and flight dynamics. It will explain how rotorcraft behave in flight, and the roles of some of the main constituent components. The lectures will explain how basic physical and mathematical principles (e.g. fluid mechanics, dynamics, differential equations) can be applied to the analysis of helicopter flight. There is also some discussion of other rotary wing types such as the tilt-rotor and the autogyro.

An introduction to the main concepts of space flight is provided, including princples of space propulsion, space launch vehicles and orbital mechanics of spacecraft.

Structural analysis forms the basis behind structural design in the aerospace industry. The module builds on basic knowledge of linear elasticity to introduce physical phenomena relevant to real-life structural design, as well as demonstrating applications to practical problems. The module proceeds to put this knowledge in the context of advanced computational analysis methods relevant to aerospace, automotive and the wider engineering sectors. The module will also provide skills in operating industry-standard simulation software, as well as first-hand experience in coding simple solutions to structural problems.

This module is about the theories of structural vibration, steady and unsteady aerodynamics, and static and dynamic aeroelasticity.

This module is the culmination of your Aerospace Engineering degree. It allows you to demonstrate all that you have learned as applied to an aircraft design project. You will work in a small team to satisfy an aircraft design proposal. You will start with a conceptual design exercise and then move into a more detailed design phase of activity. The ultimate demonstration of your aircraft’s capabilities comes with a flight test exercise either in the School of Engineering’s flight simulation facility or in hardware for small unmanned air system projects. The design exercise is marked using group-based coursework assessments which are moderated by a webPA exercise.

The module teaches the concepts of Entrepreneurship, Intrapreneurship, Company Infrastructure and Investment Proposals. It is taught using lectures, class questions, case studie sand a comprehensive coursework assignment. Successful students will have acquired knowledge and understanding at mastery level of the process and how itis executed in a modern industrial environment.

This module covers the fundamentals of Flight Handling Qualities for both fixed and rotary wing aircraft. Students will work in groups to assess handling qualities of different aircraft. The module adopts a Problem Based Learning approach and contains a number of lectures, desktop modelling and flight simulator sessions. The module is assessed through a group presentation and final report, both of which will contain an element peer assessment for the final mark.

To reinforce and deepen the students’ understanding of:

— the mathematical description of fluid kinematics.

— the physical laws expressed by the equations of fluid motion.

— the assumptions associated with particular limits of the equations of fluid motion.

— simple exact solutions of the equations of motion.

— the governing equations for compressible flows.

— the differences between laminar and turbulent flow.

— the origins of laminar-turbulent flow transition.

— the physics of turbulence.

— the need for turbulence modelling and fundamental concepts of turbulence modelling.

To introduce students to advanced concepts in potential flow theory building upon existing knowledge of:

— the analytical generation of inviscid flow over two-dimensional objects using elementary potential flows.

— the analytical calculation of resulting forces and moments on lifting surfaces.

— the numerical computation of aerodynamic properties using panel methods

To enable student to:

— recognize the capabilities and weaknesses of CFD.

— choose appropriate levels of CFD analysis for a specific problem.

— use a suitable CFD package, including meshing and setting up a simulation.

— understand preliminary aerodynamic knowledge related to turbomachinery.

This module focuses on a specific project related to a students third year project, with a journal style paper written.

In this module students develop an understanding of the use of advanced guidance laws in autonomous air systems, including the interactions of airframe dynamics, sensors and control surfaces.

This modules discusses energy generation and usage, and how they complement each other. The topics are introduced in lectures that then lead onto a case study on a specific topic.

This module will give students an understanding of the biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system and will cover techniques used to measure and analyse body movements as mechanical systems.

The module provides an understanding of nuclear engineering, with coverage going from the atomic scale through to the bulk scale. The topics will cover reactor dynamics, design and operation, lifetime behaviour, evolution of technologies and nuclear waste. For example, understanding the implications of the fission/fusion processes themselves on the behaviour of the core.

​This module is about classical optimisation and modern optimisation and their numerical methods. Structural optimisation and their numerical methods. Students will get an idea of how to optimise simple structure and get optimal solutions by analytical and numerical methods.

Astrodynamics is an exciting field for students from multiple disciplines, for those interested in space mission design, in planetary science, in applied mathematics, in computer science and mission control. On completion of this module, students will understand the advanced numerical concepts and techniques for space mission design, navigation and operations. Fundamental skills for those who are interested in job roles as Flight Dynamics Engineers, Space System Engineers, Mission Analysts and Researchers

This module aligns our graduates with the market needs. The UK additive manufacturing market was valued at 0.54 billion pounds sterling in 2022 and is predicted to reach 2.01 billion pounds sterling by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of 18.0% from 2023 to 2030.

This module aims to understand advanced engineering materials, focusing on non-ferrous alloys and composite materials. It covers the processing, heat treatment, microstructure and properties of Al, Ti and Ni alloys. It introduces constituent materials, manufacturing methods, test methods and mechanical response of composite materials.