73194 - Design Methods in the Aerospace Industry

Learning outcomes

The student gains a clear understanding of the design process used in the aerospace industry to develop new products. In detail, the student knows the proper methodologies to carry out a synthetic approach to the design of new vehicles, focusing the attention on the conceptual and preliminary design methods and tools useful for the aeronautical products development.

Course contents

-Definition of the modern design process contextualized to the aircraft project.

-The tasks of the designer.

-The organization of the documentation and the construction concept.

-The software currently available.

-Possibility of available software (CAE, CFD, FEA ....)

-General classification of the types of machines: customer expectations and specifications. The preliminary negotiation and the analysis of the specifications.

-Hints of aircraft technical history with examples of solutions

-Trouble shooting by examples

- Preliminary modeling.

- Outsourcing.

-Practical aerodynamics and applied CFD.

-The propulsion, its installation and the CFD.

-The analysis of the components and their functions with particular attention to weight

-Preliminary design techniques.

-Project evaluation techniques.

- Cost evaluation techniques.

-The evaluation of the overall reliability.

-The planning of the maintenance process and a preliminary cost estimate.

- Reliability estimates of the preliminary design.

Readings/Bibliography

Aircraft Design: A Conceptual Approach, Sixth Edition
Daniel Raymer
ISBN (print): 978-1-62410-490-9
Publication Date: September 30, 2018

NASA RP 1060
Subsonic aircraft: evolution and the matching of size to performance
Laurence K. Loftin jr.
1980

Teaching methods

The teaching consists of lectures and a project that is assigned to the individual student or to a group depending on the teaching situation. Periodically, the student / group goes to the teacher who checks the progress of the project and suggests any improvements and corrections.

Assessment methods

The end-of-course exam aims to assess the achievement of educational objectives:
- Knowledge of the design process
- Knowledge of the main CAD / CAE design tools
- Knowledge of the main validation criteria of a project,
through an oral test, on two specific questions on topics related to the main objectives of the course and on the evaluation of the individual / group project.

Teaching tools

The teaching material used in class will be made available to the student in electronic format.

Office hours

See the website of Luca Piancastelli