The module descriptors for this programme can be found below.
Modules shown are for the current academic year and are subject to change depending on your year of entry.
Please note that the curriculum of this programme is currently being reviewed as part of a College-wide process to introduce a standardised modular structure. As a result, the content and assessment structures of this course may change for your year of entry. We therefore recommend that you check this course page before finalising your application and after submitting it as we will aim to update this page as soon as any changes are ratified by the College.
Find out more about the limited circumstances in which we may need to make changes to or in relation to our courses, the type of changes we may make and how we will tell you about changes we have made.
Emerging Technology for Green Aviation
Module aims
The aim is to introduce the key technological advances, and the corresponding underlying principles, for a greener aviation. This includes the potential advantages of alternative configurations, flow control and drag-reduction using both active and passive systems, load alleviation systems and structural weight-reduction strategies and aircraft end of life and recycling. The module will consist of timetabled lectures and tutorials, delivered by academics with the relevant research expertise.
Learning outcomes
Upon completing this course you will be able to: • Appraise concepts for greener operating aircraft • Appraise processes for manufacturing and disposing of aircraft • Interpret the system-level interactions between structural, aerodynamics and control systems in advanced air vehicles • Contrast techniques and analysis methods for aerodynamic load control on flexible aircraft AHEP learning outcomes: SM7M, SM8M, SM9M, EA5m, D11M, EL11M, P9m, G1
Module syllabus
Alternative configurations: Blended wing-body, forward swept wing, canard and multiple lifting surface configurations; novel propulsion systems; advantages, disadvantages and barriers to adoption of such configurationsGreener airline operations: next generation air transport systems, cruise descents and direct approaches, Single European Sky ATM Research.Flow Control: Drag breakdown - where are most gains likely? Technological challenges, lift-dependent drag/viscous drag high lift design. Smart wings for viscous drag reduction. Passive versus active control schemes, benefits of feedback, sensors and actuator technologies. Models for feedback control, model reduction, linear and nonlinear mechanisms. Examples of passive and active control: transition delay, laminar flow control - hybrid and natural, turbulent skin-friction reduction, pressure recovery, shock-wave boundary layer interaction.Gust and manoeuvre load alleviation systems: Introduction to load alleviation. Aircraft manoeuvre envelope; internal loads for an aircraft; architectures for load alleviation; Gusts; random processes; continuous turbulence models; linear response to atmospheric turbulence. Overview of sensors and actuators for loads control.Aircraft enf of life: Environmental, safety and economic case; decommissioning; disassembly and dismantling; component management; recycling; life cycle thinking; aircraft End of Life market; R&D trends and challenges.
Pre-requisites
As this is primarily an MSc course taken by students of various backgrounds, no other course is a formal pre-requisite
Teaching methods
Traditional classroom lectures and tutorials.
Assessments
Exam - Written examination (50%)
Coursework - Written coursework covering flow control and gust and manoeuvre load alleviation systems (50%)