Advanced Aerospace Design 2015-2016


The unit is precisely addresses the requirement for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC). The module is unlike other taught courses in which the students are anticipated to develop professional skills by solving open ended problems. The fundamental technical contents for this course rely on first three years of undergraduate degree. Students are expected to solve encountered problems by self-learning that would mean, referring to previous courses contents or from books or online sources However, in some particular cases where specialist knowledge are involved for instance use of hot wire and laser cutting then detailed training are conducted for the groups to proceed with manufacturing in presence of lab assistants.

Aim of the course is to allow masters level students to advance a range of professional engineering skills by participating in a multidisciplinary group by carryout a designated task.

Objectives of advanced aerospace design course are to;

1. Indicate the potential of contributing productively and effectively in the multidisciplinary team environment.

2. Display progression of learning within a particular field of the design.

3. Recognize the necessity of the customers.

4. Understand the significance of authentication and justification of the design process along with practical testing.

5. Redirect an appropriate outcome from prior experience.

Course Schedule
The overall time plan is shown using the table, starting from Semester 1 Felix flight demonstration to full system demonstration and interviews.

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School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, University of Manchester

Group Members

The group consists of 8 members from various engineering background. Each team members chose a specific job(S). Below shows the main responsibility of all the group members besides assisting others in any relevant tasks.

Chief Engineer

Lucia Munoz Cordoba









Main duties

Provide technical vision and leadership for the group.

Key Deliverables

  • Technical vision for the group
  • Technical communication with the customer
  • Chief Engineer’s report

Project Manager

Mobin Yunus Malik








Main duties

To provide the organisational framework that enables the group to deliver to the best of its abilities 

Key Deliverables

  • Leadership on Project Plan
  • Meeting agendas and minutes
  • Project management statement
 

Aerodynamics & Performance 

Parth Aggarwal









Main duties

Aerodynamics

  • Provide leadership of the aerodynamics function in the group 

Performance

  • Provide leadership of the Performance function in the group
  • To identify appropriate aerodynamic and propulsive efficiency design targets for the vehicle
  • To develop design tools for analysis and optimisation of performance

Key Deliverables

Aerodynamics

  • Understanding of the trade between aerodynamic performance and cost in terms of weight, complexity and risk.
  • Aircraft drag polar for input into the Constraints Analysis and performance calculations

Performance
  • Constraints analysis to select wing loading and power loading
  • Detailed prediction of vehicle performance under various operating scenarios, including as a minimum range/duration and identification of appropriate reference speeds

Structures

Shuang Li











Main duties

Provide leadership of the structures function in the group

Key Deliverables

  • Choice and justification of the vehicle structural concept
  • Design and optimisation of the main structural components
  • Structural weight estimation

Weight & Balance and Stability & Control

Zawar Haider













Main duties

Weight & Balance

To maintain control over the vehicle weight and balance at all stages of the design

Stability & Control

  • Provide leadership of the Stability & Control function in the group
  • To identify an appropriate static margin and ensure that this is achieved through appropriate arrangement of lifting surfaces and cg locations
  • To specify size and locations of flight controls consistent with the required mission and pilot/autopilot handling qualities

Key Deliverable

Weight & Balance 
  • Structural weight estimation,
  • Weight and balance spreadsheet
  • Weight reduction strategy
Stability & Control
  • Vehicle lifting surface arrangement
  • Vehicle required cg location
  • Tail plane/fin sizing
  • Control surface sizing

CAD 

Mingyong Zhong













Main duties

To maintain an up to date CAD model of the vehicle

Key Deliverable

Persistently up to date CAD model that is actively used to inform the design process at every stage. 

Avionics and Propulsion 

Alessandro Zanfardino











Main duties

Avionics

Provide leadership of the Avionics function in the group 

Propulsion

Provide leadership of the Propulsion function in the group 


Key Deliverables

Avionics

  • Systems specification
  • Systems layout
  • ‘Acrylic bird’ systems demonstrator rig
  • Systems safety procedures for ground and flight test

Propulsion

  • Propulsion system specification
  • Propulsion system experimental evaluation
  • Propulsion system safety procedures

Test Pilot  and Manufacturing Leader

Yusuf Iqbal


















Main duties

Provide leadership of the flight test and operations role

Key Deliverables

  • Demonstration of pilot competency in simulation by week 4, Semester 1
  • Competency on the Bixler trainer aircraft by week 8
  • Competency to fly own groups experimental aircraft by week 10
  • Flight operations manual for group
  • Flight test (and possibly incident) reports