81826 - Principles of Aerospace Engineering

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student knows basic concepts related to the main disciplines of the BSc in Aerospace Engineering. In particular, the course aims to introduce students of the first year to problems related to the design and use of aerospace vehicles, providing basic elements of the principles of flight.

Course contents

-Nomenclature and classification of vehicles operating in air and space.
- Introductory notes on aerodynamics, basic concepts, classification, and features of wing airfoils.
-Aircraft architecture and geometric description: nomenclature of aircraft parts.
-Introductory notes on the atmospheric vehicles' performances.
- Introductory notes on material properties and methodologies for structural analysis of aircraft.
-Introduction to aeronautical and space propulsion systems and onboard systems.
- Short notes on ergonomics, flight simulation, and human factors.
- Introduction to 3D modelling with CAD systems. Modelling of simple aerospace components and structures.

Readings/Bibliography

Specific books aren't required for the course. The slides projected in class are made available to students through the appropriate space for sharing the teaching material provided by the University of Bologna (virtuale.unibo.it).
For further reading, the student may refer to:
John Anderson, Introduction to Flight, 7th edition, McGraw-Hill Education, 2011

 

Teaching methods

The teaching consists of 3CFU, corresponding to 30 hours, of which 24 (typically eight lessons of 3h each) are lectures and 6 (typically two lessons of 3h each) are practical exercises of CAD modelling of aerospace components in the laboratory. Theoretical lessons are carried out by projecting slides prepared by the teacher on the projector, which can be supplemented by further diagrams drawn on the blackboard to make students better understand the concepts if deemed necessary. Practical exercises are carried out in the IT laboratory. The goal of practical lessons is to provide students with the first principles of CAD modeling and to familiarize them with the geometry of typical aerospace components.
In consideration of the teaching methods adopted in this course unit, all the students must attend Modules 1 and 2 on Health and Safety (https://www.unibo.it/en/services-and-opportunities/health-and-assistance/health-and-safety/online-course-on-health-and-safety-in-study-and-internship-areas) in e-learning mode. Modules 1 and 2 are required for laboratory lessons, which are typically scheduled from early November onwards.

Assessment methods

The final exam evaluates the achievement of the educational objectives:
-familiarization with the basic elements of the main specific disciplines of the Aerospace Engineering Degree Course.
- Knowledge of the main problems related to the design and use of aerospace machines.
- Knowledge of the basic elements of flight principles.

The final pass is awarded upon successful completion of a written examination in which students must answer 30 multiple-choice questions within 45 minutes. Students pass the examination by answering at least 75% of the questions correctly (23 out of 30 questions).

At the end of the course, the instructor will provide each student with a parametric CAD model of a component whose dimensions are determined by individual data (combinations of digits from the student's identification number). Students are required to model the component independently using CAD before the examination and, during the examination, to submit several images of their completed CAD model as evidence that they have acquired the basic skills of CAD modeling.

The use of AI tools during the exam is prohibited in any form, including chatbots, text generators, advanced translators, content synthesizers, and tools integrated into devices. Any use of AI is considered a violation of the principles of honesty and integrity set out in the Policy and may result in the exam being annulled by the instructor, who remains responsible for verifying the validity of the examination. Students are requested to place smartphones and any other electronic devices inside backpacks or cases, which must be left at the classroom entrance. To take the exam, you will need a permanent ink pen and one or more printed sheets showing the 3D-modeled part in perspective.

Teaching tools

The teaching material presented in class will be made available to the student in electronic format via the Internet. To obtain the educational material, please visit https://virtuale.unibo.it/. Access to the resources reserved for the students of the University of Bologna who include the course in the study plan is for personal use only.
Furthermore, the teacher, during the lessons, could suggest further sources to deepen the concepts exposed during the course based on specific requests from the students.

Office hours

See the website of Alessandro Ceruti