Aerospace Engineering

BEng Hons UCAS Code

Course overview

Are you interested in the science behind flying? Maybe you are curious about how aircraft are designed and manufactured? Leading researchers in aeronautics and space teach our BEng Aerospace Engineering  to provide you with the skills and advanced knowledge needed to work in this exciting sector. All our course content is aerospace focused – from the very beginning of your programme.

Why choose this course?

Teaching and learning

Modules

Core modules

6 modules

Aerospace Design and Materials

This year long module introduces students on the Aerospace Engineering courses to the basic concepts and practices of design and manufacture in an aerospace context and includes the following topics:

  • The process of concept generation through to detail design in an aerospace context
  • The use of computer aided engineering tools in the design processes
  • Part and assembly design using CATIA
  • Basic machine elements and their function
  • How materials, stress analysis and manufacturing disciplines fit within the framework of design
  • Machining processes and metrology
  • Lab-based demonstration of manufacturing processes
  • Machine shop practical training
  • An appreciation of modern working practices - interaction with technical staff and conveying design intent

Aerospace Electronic Engineering and Computing

 This year-long module provides a basic introduction to electrical and electronic devices in an aerospace engineering context. It will also introduce essential computation and programming skills to enable you to solve engineering problems.

The module provides a comprehensive introduction to both analogue and digital electronics, covering topics such as electronic fundamentals, Ohm's Law and Kirchhoff's Laws. It explores the role of diodes and their applications, the operation of transistors as switches and amplifiers, and the use of operational amplifiers in various configurations, including inverting, non-inverting and integrator circuits. The module also delves into digital fundamentals, logic circuits and binary number systems, as well as analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversions. Additionally, it includes an overview of data transmission methods, with a focus on ARINC 429, a key standard for data transmission in avionics systems.

The computing component introduces fundamental concepts in programming and MATLAB. It covers creating and using vectors, writing scripts and working with 2D data arrays and plotting. Students will learn about screen output, string manipulation and keyboard input, applying these skills to practical scenarios. The component includes program structure, with for and while loops, and the management of matrices along with conditional execution of code using if statements. Additional topics include version control, algorithms for sorting, integration and differentiation, as well as parallel programming and creating reusable code through functions. Advanced input/output operations from and to files are also covered.


Aerospace Statics and Dynamics

This year-long module introduces students on the Aerospace Engineering courses to the fundamental concepts and principles of solid mechanics and dynamics. It covers their application to simple engineering scenarios in an aerospace context.

Topics include:

  • Review of basic mechanics : vectors, units, forces and moments, Newton’s laws
  • Static equilibrium: force and moment analysis in design; frictional forces
  • Free body diagrams and Pin-jointed structures
  • Stress, strain and elasticity
  • Multi-axial stress-strain; thin walled vessels under pressure
  • Shear stress and torsion of shafts
  • Plane stress; Mohr's circle analysis
  • Beam bending: shear force & bending moment diagrams
  • 2nd moments of area of cross-sections
  • Bending stresses in beams
  • Linear and rotational motion: Displacement, velocity and acceleration
  • Relationship between angular and linear motion• Newton's Laws for linear & rotational motion
  • Linear and Angular Momentum, including conservation of momentum
  • Work, Energy & Power, including kinetic & potential energy
  • Geared systems
  • Drive systems, including tangential drives and vehicles
  • Load characteristics and steady-state characteristics
  • Flywheel design
  • Static and dynamic balancing

Aircraft Design and Performance

This year-long module introduces students on the Aerospace Engineering courses to the basic concepts and practices of aircraft design and flight mechanics. It covers the following topics:

  • Aircraft classification and configurations
  • Aircraft design procedures
  • Aircraft characteristics and performance
  • Preliminary aerodynamics analysis
  • Flight envelopes
  • Steady flight conditions
  • Static stability

Fluid Mechanics and Aircraft Aerodynamics

This year-long module will give you with the knowledge, concepts and principles of fluid mechanics and aerodynamics.

Topics covered are:

  • atmospheric physics
  • standard atmosphere
  • static pressure
  • hydrostatics
  • inviscid flows – conservation of mass and momentum
  • Euler and Bernoulli equations
  • Introduction to compressible conservation of viscous flows
  • Introduction to shock waves lifting surfaces – aerofoil and wings
  • basic forces
  • pressure distributions
  • fluid structure interaction phenomena

Integrating Project and Maths 1

This year-long module comprises a number of elements and these are:

  • Engineering maths
  • Introduction to systems engineering
  • Essential professional engineering elements: report writing, information searching and data analysis
  • Essential engineering study/career support elements: Using MS Excel, Word and PowerPoint
  • Essential project skills: team working, project management and MS Project
  • These elements and skills will be covered to a level appropriate to first-year aerospace engineering students.

In addition, the module includes a year-long integrating group project element that draws in technical elements from other content in the qualifying year of the course. A normal output from the project is a model scale aircraft designed to meet the specification set.


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Entry requirements

3 years full-time

£10,050 per year

Quote marks icon

The highlight of my course has been the many opportunities that have been available to me such as becoming a flight simulator instructor and going up in a flying laboratory."

Poppy Howe

Aerospace Engineering BEng

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