MECH ENG 4106 - Aerospace Propulsion
North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2021
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code MECH ENG 4106 Course Aerospace Propulsion Coordinating Unit School of Mechanical Engineering Term Semester 1 Level Undergraduate Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 3 Contact Up to 4 hours per week Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y Incompatible MECH ENG 7053 Assumed Knowledge 6 units of Level II Applied Maths, MECH ENG 3100, MECH ENG 3104 Assessment Assignments, project, laboratory experiment, quiz, final exam Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Adjunct Lecturer Warrick Miller
Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .
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Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course students will be able to:
1 Explain propulsion systems (turbojets, turbofans, ramjets, ducted rockets, scramjets, chemical and electrical space propulsion (review) and non-traditional space propulsion systems) and their application to aerospace vehicles; 2 Demonstrate skills to analytically and numerically solve problems related to aerospace propulsion systems both on paper and using numerical methods; 3 Demonstrate skills in working independently with minimal supervision; 4 Demonstrate skills in critical evaluation of scientific literature; 5 Demonstrate skills in working as a team member; and 6 Demonstrate skills in planning and presentation of scientific talks and reports.
The above course learning outcomes are aligned with the Engineers Australia .
The course is designed to develop the following Elements of Competency: 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6
University Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Deep discipline knowledge
- informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
- acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
- accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
1-2 Critical thinking and problem solving
- steeped in research methods and rigor
- based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
- demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
1-4 Teamwork and communication skills
- developed from, with, and via the SGDE
- honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
- encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
5-6 Career and leadership readiness
- technology savvy
- professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
- forward thinking and well informed
- tested and validated by work based experiences
5 Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
- a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
- open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
- able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
3,4,6 -
Learning Resources
Required Resources
1) Course notes
2) Textbook: Hill, P., and Peterson, C., Mechanics and Thermodynamics of Propulsion, Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., 1992,
3) Any online material will be available at MyUni.
4) Digital recordings of lectures (e.g., taping lectures, wireless network, pod-casts) may not be made available to students who are absent.
Recommended Resources
1) Sutton, G. P., and Biblarz, O., Rocket Propulsion Elements, 8th Ed, Wiley-interscience, 2010
2) Bathie, W. W., Fundamentals of Gas Turbines, 2nd Ed, John Wiley & Sons, 1992.
3) Goebel, D. M, and Katz, I., Fundamentals of Electric Propulsion, John Wiley & Sons, 2008.
4) Turns, S. R., An Introduction to Combustion, 2nd Ed, McGraw-Hill, 2000.
Online Learning
Copies of assignments and any paper material distributed during class will also be posted on My-Uni.
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Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
Lectures supported by problem-solving tutorials, group seminars, and a practical laboratory developing material covered in lectures.
Workload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
Formal Contact: Lectures and tutorials: 41 hours, Seminars: 4 hours, Practical: 5 hours, Exam: 3 hours.
Suggested personal workload (will vary between students): Reading and revising course material: 30-50 hours, Completion of assignments and practical report: 30-50 hours, Exam preparation: 30-50 hours.
Learning Activities Summary
The numbers quoted here are approximations and will vary if some activities take longer or less time than anticipated:
I. Review of thermodynamics and Introduction of Propulsion – 10 lectures
- Review
- Mixtures of gases
- Thermodynamic cycles
- Combustion thermodynamics
II. Chemical Propulsion – 24 lectures
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Air-Breathing Propulsion Systems
- turbojet systems
- turbofan systems
- turboprops/propfans systems
- ramjet systems
- scramjet systems
- PDE’s and other advanced concepts
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Air-Breathing Propulsion System Components
- subsonic inlets and diffusers
- supersonic inlets and diffusers
- axial and radial (centrifugal) compressors
- combustors
- axial turbines
- nozzles
- propellors and fans
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Air-Breathing Propulsion System Integration
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Rocket Propulsion Systems
- thrust analysis
- vertical trajectory analyses
- staging performance
- basic orbital dynamics
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Liquid propellant rocket systems
- propellants
- preburners
- turbopumps
- injectors
- thrust chambers
- nozzles
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Solid propellant rocket systems
- propellants
- configurations
- characteristics
III. Electric Propulsion – 5 lectures
- Physics of electromagnetic fields
- Plasmas and magnetohydrodynamics
- One-dimensional steady flow of a plasma
- Magnetic Reynolds number
- Practical electric propulsion devices
IV. Alternative space propulsion systems (student Seminars) – 5 lectures
V. Review of course material – 2 lectures
Specific Course Requirements
Students will be required to adhere to laboratory conduct safety guidelines for the practical component of this course.
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Assessment
The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
Assessment Task Weighting (%) Individual/ Group Formative/ Summative Due (week)* Hurdle criteria Learning outcomes Assignment 1 5 Individual Summative Week 5 1. 2. 3. Assignment 2 5 Individual Summative Week 7 1. 2. 3. Assignment 3 5 Individual Summative Week 9 1. 2. 3. Assignment 4 5 Individual Summative Week 11 1. 2. 3. Quizes 5 Individual Summative Weeks 3-11 1. 2. 3. Group Assignments 15 Group Summative Weeks 11-12 1. 2. 3. Lab 10 Individual Summative Weeks 7-11 Min 50% 3. 4. 6. Final Exam 50 Individual Summative Exam period 1. 2. 3. Total 100
This assessment breakdown complies with the University's Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy.
Due to the current COVID-19 situation modified arrangements have been made to assessments to facilitate remote learning and teaching. Assessment details provided here reflect recent updates.
There will be no changes to the quizzes or the assignments. These are to be submitted online, and will continue to be weighted at 5% for the quizzes, and 20% for the assignments.
There will also be no changes to the group project. The current advice from the University is to maintain group work requirements, as groups can collaborate online. The deliverables will be unchanged, and will consist of a technical paper, a video presentation, presentation slides, and a computer program. As stated in the project description, there is no requirement for every group member to participate in the presentation, workload should be allocated and managed within the group. Remote students (i.e. those who
are overseas) will still have the option to complete the project in a group or to complete a modified version of the project individually. The weighting of the group project will remain at 15%.
Changes will be required to the exam format, as the University is not holding the regular exam period. The examination will now be a take-home examination submitted through MyUni rather than an invigilated examination. The weighting of the exam will remain at 50%. Further details will be provided in due course.Assessment Related Requirements
In order to pass this course, students must achieve a pass grade for the turbine engine performance laboratory.
Assessment Detail
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Final exam is a 3-hour long open book exam, to be conducted during the formal university examination period.
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There will be 4 assignments in total. Three of these are individual assignments (no collaboration) and the other is a group assignment/project. These will be distributed during class and also placed on MyUni. Due dates for these assignments may be subject to change; any changes will be announced in-class, written on the assignment, and posted on MyUni at the time the assignment is first distributed.
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The turbine engine performance laboratory is run as part of the formal Level IV laboratories.
Submission
Unless otherwise specified, submission of assignments and laboratory reports will be made through the hand-in boxes located next to the school office on Level 2 of Engineering South. Cover-sheets should be attached to all submissions (cover-sheets located next to the submission boxes).
Late submissions will be penalized at 50% per day late. Submissions are due at 1pm. Extensions for assignments will only be given in exceptional circumstances and a case for this with supporting documentation must be made either in writing after a lecture, submitted in hard copy to the front office (to be passed on to the lecturer), or emailed to the lecturer directly.
Assignments will be assessed and returned within 4 weeks from submission (usually significantly less). Assignments that are marked prior to the last class will be brought to class for students to collect. Any assignments not collected in-class will be left in the assignment collection boxes next to the elevator on level 2 of Engineering South. There will be no opportunities for re-submission of work of unacceptable standard. Due to the large class size, feedback on assignments will be limited to in-class discussion resulting from questions from students.
Course Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Final results for this course will be made available through .
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Student Feedback
The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
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Student Support
- Academic Integrity for Students
- Academic Support with Maths
- Academic Support with writing and study skills
- Careers Services
- Library Services for Students
- LinkedIn Learning
- Student Life Counselling Support - Personal counselling for issues affecting study
- Students with a Disability - Alternative academic arrangements
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Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
- Academic Credit Arrangements Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progress by Coursework Students Policy
- Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy
- Copyright Compliance Policy
- Coursework Academic Programs Policy
- Intellectual Property Policy
- IT Acceptable Use and Security Policy
- Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy
- Reasonable Adjustments to Learning, Teaching & Assessment for Students with a Disability Policy
- Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy
- Student Grievance Resolution Process
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Fraud Awareness
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