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ME30219: Aircraft performance

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2013/4
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Mechanical Engineering
Further information on credits Credits: 6
Further information on unit levels Level: Honours (FHEQ level 6)
Further information on teaching periods Period: Semester 1
Further information on unit assessment Assessment: EX 100%
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: ME30219 Re-Assessment Examination (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites:
Further information on descriptions Description: Aims:
To introduce the basic mechanics of flight and the factors affecting the design of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. To provide a broad outline of the performance characteristics of aircraft and of aircraft engines. To introduce methods for the initial sizing of aircraft using principal design parameters.

Learning Outcomes:
After taking this unit the student should be able to:
Apply analytical methods to predict the performance of fixed-wing aircraft in level, climbing and turning flight, and of rotary-wing aircraft in the hover and in axial and forward flight. Understand and apply fixed-wing aircraft specifications within the Airworthiness Regulations; calculate take-off and landing distances and understand the balance field length concept. Construct a constraints diagram for the critical flight phases for estimation of wing and engine requirements.

Skills:
Problem solving; numeracy; working independently.

Content:
Standard atmosphere and aircraft speed definitions; fixed-wing aircraft level flight, climb and field performance; use of a drag polar; range equations and turning flight. Performance characteristics of thrust and power producing engines. Introduction to rotor aerodynamics. Actuator disc and blade element theories. Thrust and power predictions of a rotor in hover, vertical and forward flight; performance of a single main rotor helicopter. Take-off and landing distance calculations, WAT limits and the balanced field length for fixed-wing aircraft. Payload-range diagrams and constraints diagrams for preliminary aircraft sizing; considerations for the design of fixed-wing aircraft and rotorcraft. Topics for self study that could be examined.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

ME30219 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Mechanical Engineering
  • UEME-AFB26 : BEng (hons) Aerospace Engineering (Full-time) - Year 3
  • UEME-AKB26 : BEng (hons) Aerospace Engineering (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4
  • UEME-AFM04 : MEng (hons) Aerospace Engineering (Full-time) - Year 3
  • UEME-AKM04 : MEng (hons) Aerospace Engineering (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4
  • UEME-AKM05 : MEng (hons) Aerospace Engineering with French (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4
  • UEME-AKM06 : MEng (hons) Aerospace Engineering with German (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4

ME30219 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Mechanical Engineering
  • UEME-AFM01 : MEng (hons) Automotive Engineering (Full-time) - Year 4
  • UEME-AKM01 : MEng (hons) Automotive Engineering (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 5
  • UEME-AFM16 : MEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering (Full-time) - Year 4
  • UEME-AKM16 : MEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 5
  • UEME-AFM41 : MEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering with Advanced Design and Innovation (Full-time) - Year 4
  • UEME-AKM41 : MEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering with Advanced Design and Innovation (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 5
  • UEME-AFM38 : MEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering with Manufacturing and Management (Full-time) - Year 4
  • UEME-AKM38 : MEng (hons) Mechanical Engineering with Manufacturing and Management (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 5

Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2013/4 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2014/15 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2013/14.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.