Aerospace and Ocean Engineering
Head, Rolls-Royce Commonwealth Professor of Marine Propulsion: E.G. Paterson
Assistant Head for Academic Affairs: R.A. Canfield
Assistant Head for Laboratory Facilities: M.K. Philen
Assistant Head for Graduate Studies: C.J. Roy
Fred D. Durham Professor: J.A. Schetz
Kevin Crofton Professor: M.L. Psiaki
Norris and Laura Mitchell Professor: R. K. Kapania
Professors: A.J. Brown, R.A. Canfield, W.J. Devenport, R.K. Kapania, L. Ma, E.G. Paterson, M.L. Psiaki, P. Raj, C.J. Roy, J.A. Schetz, and C.A. Woolsey
Associate Professors: J.T. Black, O. Coutier-Delgosha, S. Brizzolara, S. England, M. Farhood, K.T. Lowe, M. Patil, M.K. Philen, G.D. Seidel, and C. Sultan
Assistant Professors: C.S. Adams, W.N. Alexander, C.M. Ikeda, S. Choi, L. Massa, B. Srinivasan, K. Vamvoudakis, K.G. Wang, and H. Xiao
Adjunct Professors: E.D. Crede and K. A. Shinpaugh
Professors Emeritus: E.M. Cliff, W.C. Durham, B. Grossman, E.R. Johnson, J.F. Marchman, W.H. Mason, W.L. Neu, R.L. Simpson, and R. Walters
Faculty Affiliates: S. Bailey, R. Batra, R.A. Burdisso, T. Clark, G. Earle, M. Hajj, K. Kochersberger, R. McGwier, W. Scales, D. Stilwell, P. Tarazaga, and L. Watson
Web: www.aoe.vt.edu
E-mail: aoe@vt.edu
Overview
The Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering offers two Bachelor of Science degree programs. Students in the department may major in either aerospace engineering or ocean engineering. Many of the course requirements for these degrees are common, because the two curricula share a broad range of common interests. Both programs offer a wide range of technical electives. Students with an interest in both majors may enroll in a double major program.
The objectives of both of the department's programs include the preparation of students for entry-level positions and graduate study in the fields of aerospace engineering and ocean engineering. The department seeks to provide students with a strong background in fundamentals, including theoretical, experimental, and computational aspects of science and engineering, which will facilitate lifelong learning and the ability to pursue advanced study. It also seeks to provide students with a broad education in the aerospace and ocean vehicle fields encompassing fluid dynamics, vehicle dynamics and control, propulsion, and structures, and including an emphasis on design and synthesis in a team environment.
The department's curricula are vehicle oriented, with an emphasis on aircraft and spacecraft in the aerospace program and on ships of all types in the ocean engineering program. The department's systems engineering approach to these technologies makes them increasingly applicable to other fields, such as the automobile industry, high-speed train design, and other transportation related areas. Departmental graduates find positions in these fields, as well as with the aerospace industry, NASA, the Department of Defense, the ship building industry, and maritime agencies. Employers range from large, multinational corporations to small consulting firms.
Classroom studies employ modern computational techniques. Laboratory classes use the department's outstanding experimental facilities which include a large, research-quality subsonic wind tunnel with a twenty-four-foot-long, six-by-six foot cross section test area and state of the art automated control and data collection systems, a 100-foot-long towing tank, a Mach 4 supersonic wind tunnel, a Mach 7 hypersonic wind tunnel, a water tunnel, a 300-foot long asphalt runway, and several other facilities.
The department encourages students to seek internships and to participate in the Cooperative Education Program, which gives qualified students valuable industrial experience while working toward their engineering degrees. The department's required design courses often include multidisciplinary projects.
The Aerospace Engineering and Ocean Engineering programs are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org. The department also offers programs of study leading to M. Engr., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees.
AOE students must meet all General Education (Curriculum for Liberal Education) requirements and only certain "free" electives and courses designated as "P/F Only" may be taken on a Pass/Fail basis. Lists of approved electives including technical, math, Liberal Education, and other electives are available on the department's web page: www.aoe.vt.edu/undergrad/undergrad-advising/index-undergrad-advising.html.
Degree Requirements
The graduation requirements in effect at the time of graduation apply. When choosing the degree requirements information, always choose the year of your expected date of graduation. Requirements for graduation are referred to via university publications as "Checksheets". The number of credit hours required for degree completion varies among curricula. Students must satisfactorily complete all requirements and university obligations for degree completion.
The university reserves the right to modify requirements in a degree program. However, the university will not alter degree requirements less than two years from the expected graduation year unless there is a transition plan for students already in the degree program.
Please visit the University Registrar website at http://registrar.vt.edu/graduation-multi-brief/index1.html for degree requirements.
Undergraduate Course Descriptions (AOE)
2054: ELECTRONICS FOR AEROSPACE AND OCEAN ENGINEERS
Electrical circuits. Discrete passive and active electrical
components. Phasors and impedence. AC power analysis.
Digital electronics. Electronics for autonomous and piloted
aerospace and ocean systems. Electronics for vehicle
navigation, guidance, and control. Instrumentation and
data acquisition systems.
(2H,3L,3C)
2074 (ESM 2074): COMPUTATIONAL METHODS
Solving engineering problems using numerical methods and
software, truncation and round-off error, root finding,
linear and polynomial regression, interpolation, splines,
numerical inegration, numerical differentiation, solution of
linear simultaneous equations. A grade of C- or better is
required in the prerequisite.
Pre: ENGE 1114 or ENGE 1216 or ENGE 1434.
(2H,1.5L,2C)
2104: INTRODUCTION TO AEROSPACE ENGINEERING
Overview of aerospace engineering from a design perspective;
introductory aerodynamics, lift, drag, and the standard
atmosphere; aircraft performance, stability, and control;
propulsion; structures; rocket and spacecraft trajectories
and orbits. Co: ESM 2104 or ESM 2214.
Pre: ENGE 1216, PHYS 2305.
Co: 2074.
(3H,3C)
2114: FUNDAMENTALS OF FLIGHT TRAINING
Foundational course to prepare students with knowledge of
basic aeronautics to take the Federal Aviation
Administration Knowledge Exam, a requirement for the award
of a private pilot's license. Explores airplane systems and
functions, flight operations, weather, aeronautical
navigation, communications, human factors, and federal
aviation regulations.
(2H,2C)
2204: INTRODUCTION TO OCEAN ENGINEERING
Introduction to the design of ocean vehicles and offshore
structures. Buoyancy. Hull geometry, body plan drawing,
coefficients of form. Hydrostatic calculations. Intact and
damaged stability of ocean vehicles and offshore structures.
Large angle stability. Stability criteria for design and
related rules and regulations. Marine economics. A grade
of C- or better is required in each prerequisite.
Pre: ENGE 1216, PHYS 2305.
Co: MATH 2204.
(3H,3C)
2214: INTRO TO PHYS OCEAN FOR OE
Ocean seafloor properties and dynamics. Properties
of seawater. Ocean currents and circulation. Physics
of ocean waves and tides.
Pre: (ENGE 1114 or ENGE 1216), PHYS 2305.
(1H,1C)
2664 (ECE 2164): EXPLORATION OF THE SPACE ENVIRONMENT
This introductory course covers a broad range of scientific,
engineering, and societal aspects associated with the
exploration and technological exploitation of space.
Topics covered include: science of the space environment,
space weather hazards and societal impacts, orbital
mechanics and rocket propulsion, spacecraft subsystems,
applications of space-based technologies.
(3H,3C)
2974: INDEPENDENT STUDY
Variable credit course.
2984: SPECIAL STUDY
Variable credit course.
2994: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Variable credit course.
2994H: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Variable credit course.
3014: AERO/HYDRODYNAMICS
Two-dimensional potential flow, stream function, velocity
potential, flow superposition, circulation and lift, airfoil
characteristics. Two-dimensional airfoil theory and panel
methods. Three-dimensional lifting line theory and vortex
lattice solutions for finite wings.
Pre: (3104 or 3204), ESM 2304.
(3H,3C)
3024: THIN-WALLED STRUCTURES
Review of mechanics of materials. Stresses in stiffened
shell beams. Deformation analysis by energy methods.
Multicell beams. Introduction to the matrix stiffness
method including truss and beam elements.
Pre: ESM 2104, ESM 2204.
(3H,3C)
3034: SYSTEM DYNAMICS AND CONTROL
Free and forced response of first, second, and higher order
linear, time-invariant (LTI) systems in frequency and time
domains. Modeling of low-order mechanical systems.
Transmission and absorption of vibrations. Transient and
steady state performance specifications. Introduction to
closed-loop control using proportional-integral-derivative
(PID) feedback. Closed-loop stability analysis using root
locus method.
Pre: ESM 2304, (MATH 2214 or MATH 2214H).
(3H,3C)
3044: BOUNDARY LAYER AND HEAT TRANSFER
Concepts of viscous flows and physical properties equations
of laminar motion with heat and mass transfer; exact and
approximate solutions; finite-difference methods; transition
to turbulence; analysis in turbulent flows. Conduction and
convective heat transfer.
Pre: 3014, ME 3134, MATH 4564.
(3H,3C)
3054: AOE EXPERIMENTAL METHODS
Principles of measurement and measurement systems;
standards, accuracy, uncertainty and statistical concepts.
Practical electronics, detectors, transducers and
instruments for aerospace and ocean engineering. Signal
conditioning systems and readout devices; digital data
acquisition, structures, structural dynamics, fluid
dynamics, materials and wind-tunnel testing.
Pre: 3014, 3024, 3034.
(1H,6L,3C)
3094 (MSE 3094): MATERIALS & MANUFACTURING FOR AERO & OCEAN ENGINEERS
This course introduces the student of Aerospace and/or
Ocean Engineering to the fundamental properties of
materials typically required for structural design. The
performance characteristics of metals, ceramics, polymers,
and composites are presented and contrasted. Foundation
principles underlying materials manufacturing are also
presented with the goal of providing an understanding of
how processing affects material properties and
performance. Must have a C- or better in pre-requisite
CHEM 1035. Non-MSE Majors only.
Pre: CHEM 1035.
Co: ESM 2204, PHYS 2305.
(3H,3C)
3104: AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE
Performance of aircraft. Analysis of fluid statics and
dynamics affecting aircraft performance. Hydrostatics
of the standard atmosphere and development of basic
equations of fluid dynamics. Lift and drag. Aircraft
static performance. Rates of climb, endurance, range, take
off and landing, and turn performance.
Pre: (2104 or 2204), ESM 2104.
Co: 2074, ESM 2304.
(3H,3C)
3114: COMPRESSIBLE AERODYNAMICS
Inviscid, compressible gas dynamics. Continuity, momentum
and energy equations, shock waves, Prandtl-Meyer expansions.
One-dimensional steady and unsteady flow, Rayleigh line,
Fanno line, Shock Tubes. Method of Characteristics,
supersonic thin airfoil theory and conical flow.
Pre: 3014, ME 3134.
(3H,3C)
3124: AEROSPACE STRUCTURES
Aspects of structural analysis pertinent to the design of
flight vehicles: aeroelastic divergence, environmental
loads, aerospace materials, buckling of thinwalled
compression members, and introduction to matrix structural
dynamics.
Pre: 3024.
(3H,3C)
3134: AIR VEHICLE DYNAMICS
Nonlinear kinematic and dynamic equations of aircraft
motion; estimation of stability derivatives from aircraft
geometry; determination of steady motions; linearization;
longitudinal and lateral-directional small perturbation
equations; static and dynamic stability of equilibrium
flight.
Pre: 3034.
(3H,3C)
3144: SPACE VEHICLE DYNAMICS
Attitude representations and equations of rotational motion
for rigid and multibody spacecraft; attitude determination;
linearization and stability analysis of steady motions;
effect of the gravity gradient; torque thrusters and
momentum exchange devices.
Pre: 3034.
(3H,3C)
3204: NAVAL ARCHITECTURE
Buoyancy of ocean vehicles. Hull geometry, line drawings,
coefficients of form. Hydrostatic calculations, development
of a computer program for hydrostatic analysis. Review and
calculations. Intact and damaged stability of ocean
vehicles. Large angle stability. Stability criteria.
Viscosity. Stress in a fluid. Basic laws of fluid
dynamics.
Pre: ESM 2104, (MATH 2224 or MATH 2204 or MATH 2204H), (AOE 2104 or AOE 2204).
Co: 2074, ESM 2304.
(3H,3C)
3224: OCEAN STRUCTURES
Overview of surface ship, submarine and offshore structural
systems, materials and loadings. Application of beam and
plate bending and buckling theories. Frame and finite
element structural analysis.
Pre: 3024.
(3H,3C)
3234: OCEAN VEHICLE DYNAMICS
Nonlinear kinematic and dynamic equations of rigid vessel
motion in water; hydrostatic and hydrodynamic forces in calm
water; motion response to regular and irregular waves;
single, multiple and coupled motions degrees of freedom;
spectral analysis of response of random seas; statistical
analysis of extreme motion response; impact of seakeeping
criteria on ocean vehicles design; principles of
hydroelasticity; principles of maneuvering of surface and
underwater vehicles.
Pre: 3014, 3034, 3214.
(3H,3C)
3264: RESISTANCE AND PROPULSION OF SHIPS
Methods of estimating ship resistance; propulsion devices
and their efficiencies; Resistance components; Froude
scaling of model test data; Methodical series; Planing
hulls; Propellers; Waterjets; Propeller design; Computer
methods; Advanced marine vehicles.
Pre: 3014, 3204.
(3H,3C)
4004: COMPUTER-AIDED CONTROL SYSTEM DESIGN
Control design and analysis for linear, state-space system
models. Properties of linear, time-invariant control
systems: Input/output stability, internal stability,
controlability, and observability. Performance and
robustness measures. State feedback control design
methods: pole placement, linear-quadratic control. State
observers and output feedback control. Applications to
control of mechanical systems including ocean, atmospheric,
and space vehicles.
Pre: 3034.
(3H,3C)
4024 (ESM 4734): AN INTRODUCTION TO THE FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
The finite element method is introduced as a numerical
method of solving the ordinary and partial differential
equations arising in fluid flow, heat transfer, and solid
and structural mechanics. The classes of problems
considered include those described by the second-order and
fourth-order ordinary differential equations and
second-order partial differential equations. Both theory
and applications of the method to problems in various fields
of engineering and applied sciences will be studied.
Pre: (CS 3414 or MATH 3414 or AOE 2074 or ESM 2074) or (MATH 2224 or MATH 2224H or MA
TH 2204 or MATH 2204H).
(3H,3C)
4054 (CEE 4444) (ESM 4444): STABILITY OF STRUCTURES
Introduction to the methods of static structural stability
analysis and their applications. Buckling of columns and
frames. Energy method and approximate solutions. Elastic
and inelastic behavior. Torsional and lateral buckling.
Use of stability as a structural design criterion.
Pre: 3024 or CEE 3404.
(3H,3C)
II.
4064: FLUID FLOWS IN NATURE
Course designed to build upon and broaden a basic
traditional engineering knowledge of fluid flows into areas
concerning a variety of natural occurrences and phenomena
that involve fluid motions in important ways. Drag of sessil
systems and motile animals, gliding and soaring, flying and
swimming, internal flows in organisms, low Reynolds number
flows, fluid-fluid interfaces, unsteady flows in nature and
wind engineering.
I
Pre: 3014 or CEE 3304 or ESM 3024 or ME 3404.
(3H,3C)
4065-4066: AIRCRAFT DESIGN
Analysis and design of various aeronautical vehicles and
systems.
Pre: 3054, 3114, 3124, 3134 for 4065; 3054, 3114, 3124, 3134, 4065 for 4066.
(2H,3L,3C)
4084 (ESM 4084): ENGINEERING DESIGN OPTIMIZATION
Use of mathematical programming methods for engineering
design optimization including linear programming, penalty
function methods, and gradient projection methods.
Applications to minimum weight design, open-loop optimum
control, machine design, and appropriate design problems
from other engineering disciplines.
Pre: (MATH 2224 or MATH 2204 or MATH 2204H).
(3H,3C)
4114: APPLIED COMPUTATIONAL AERODYNAMICS
Development of computational methods for application to
wing aerodynamic problems. Incompressible airfoil codes.
Panel methods and vortex lattice methods. Finite difference
techniques. Transonic and supersonic applications.
Pre: 3044, 3114.
(3H,3C)
4124: CONFIGURATION AERODYNAMICS
Aerodynamic design of flight vehicles, with emphasis on
nonlinear flowfields and configuration concepts. Aerodynamic
analysis and design for transonic, supersonic, hypersonic
flows, and low speed high alpha flight. Includes case
studies of classic configurations and aerodynamic design
papers.
Pre: 3014, 3114.
(3H,3C)
4134: ASTROMECHANICS
Application of Newton's Laws to the dynamics of spaceflight.
Two-body problem, Kepler's Laws, energy and time relations,
orbit specification and determination. Orbital maneuver
and transfer, patched conic approximations, relative motion,
and elements of optimal maneuvering.
Pre: ESM 2304.
(3H,3C)
4140: SPACECRAFT DYNAMICS AND CONTROL
Space missions and the way pointing requirements affect
attitude control systems. Rotational kinematics and attitude
determination algorithms. Modeling and analysis of the
attitude dynamics of space vehicles. Rigid body dynamics,
effects of energy dissipation. Gravity gradient, spin, and
dual spin stabilization. Rotational maneuvers. Environmental
torques. Impacts of attitude stabilization techniques on
mission performance.
Pre: 3034, 4134.
(3H,3C)
4154: AEROSPACE ENGINEERING LABORATORY
Wind tunnel laboratory experiments related to subsonic
and supersonic aerodynamics. Continuation of AOE 3054 for
Aerospace Engineering students. Writing of technical
laboratory reports; design of experiments.
Pre: 3054, 3114, 3124, (3134 or 4140).
(3L,1C)
4165-4166: SPACECRAFT DESIGN
Analysis and design of various space vehicles and systems.
Pre: 3054, 3114, 3124, 4140 for 4165; 3054, 3114, 3124, 4140, 4165 for 4166.
(2H,3L,3C)
4174 (ME 4174): SPACECRAFT PROPULSION
Spacecraft propulsion systems and their applications in
orbital, interplanetary, and interstellar flight. Rocket
propulsion fundamentals; advanced mission analysis;
physics and engineering of chemical rockets, electrical
thrusters, and propellantless systems (tethers and sails);
spacecraft integration issues.
Pre: 4234 or ME 4234.
(3H,3C)
4214: OCEAN WAVE MECHANICS
Introduction to theory of wave motion in different water
depth regions, including wave generation and propagation.
Description of wave statistics and spectral representation
for realistic ocean conditions. Wave forces on stationary
structures. Nonlinear waves, wave properties, and methods
of analysis.
Pre: 3014, MATH 4564.
(3H,3C)
4234 (ME 4234): AEROSPACE PROPULSION SYSTEMS
Design principles and performance analysis of atmospheric
and space propulsion engines and systems. Application of
thermodynamics, compressible fluid flow and combustion
fundamentals to the design of gas turbine and rocket engines
and components, including inlets, turbomachines, combustors,
and nozzles. Matching of propulsion system to vehicle
requirements.
Pre: (3114, ME 3134) or (ME 3404, ME 3124).
(3H,3C)
4244 (ME 4244): MARINE ENGINEERING
Analysis of major ship propulsion devices (propellers,
water jets). Integration with propulsion plant and
machinery. Characteristics of marine steam turbines,
nuclear power plants, marine diesels, and marine gas
turbines. Shafting system, bearings, and vibration
problems.
Pre: 3204, (ME 3134 or ME 3124).
(3H,3C)
4254: OCEAN ENGINEERING LABORATORY
Continuation of AOE 3054 for Ocean Engineering students
using facilities and instrumentation pertinent to ocean
engineering. Writing of technical laboratory reports;
design of experiments.
Pre: 3054, 3264.
(1H,2L,1C)
4264: PRINCIPLES OF NAVAL ENGINEERING
This course studies naval engineering systems and systems
engineering processes with particular emphasis on: naval
missions; combat system performance including radar;
underwater acoustics and sonar; ballistics; weapon
propulsion and architecture; weapons effects; ship
survivability including underwater explosion and shock
waves; surface ship and submarine balance and feasibility
analysis; and total ship integration. Senior Standing
required.
Pre: (2204 or 3204), (MATH 2224 or MATH 2204 or MATH 2204H), PHYS 2306.
(3H,3C)
4265-4266: SHIP DESIGN
Study and application of systems engineering process to
simultaneous development of ship requirements, concept
exploration, selection of ship technologies, and selection
of a baseline ship design. Emphasis is on hullform,
machinery, ship synthesis and balance, metrics and
design optimization in the context of a ship design project.
Baseline design selected in the first semester is developed
in the second semester. This includes hullform; topside
arrangements; internal subdivision and tankage; power and
propulsion; auxiliary machinery, general arrangements,
machinery weights, space, seakeeping, cost, risk, and
overall balance and feasibility.
Pre: 3054, 3224, 3264, 4214, 4244 for 4265; 3054, 3224, 3264, 4214, 4244, 4265, 4334
for 4266.
Co: 4334 for 4265.
(2H,3L,3C)
4274: COMPUTER BASED DESIGN OF OCEAN STRUCTURES
Computer-based structural models for combined finite
element analysis, limit state analysis and optimization.
Torsion of thin-walled structures. Buckling of stiffened
panels and cylinders. Eigenvalue methods for buckling
and vibration. Incremental plastic collapse; other
progressive collapse. Ultimate strength of large
structural modules.
Pre: 3224.
(3H,3C)
4334: SHIP DYNAMICS
Analysis of motions of rigid body vehicles in water,
including influence of added mass and buoyancy. Seakeeping
motion responses in waves, wave-induced structural loads,
random response analysis via spectral analysis, and extreme
response analysis. Introduction to hydroelasticity and
maneuvering.
Pre: 3014, 3034, 4214, MATH 4564.
(3H,3C)
4344: DYN OF HIGH-SPEED MARINE CRAFT
Introduction to the dynamics of high-speed craft, including
surface effect ships, hydrofoil vessels, semi-displacement
monohulls and catamarans, and planing vessels.
Pre: 3264, 4334.
(3H,3C)
4404 (MATH 4404): APPLIED NUMERICAL METHODS
Interpolation and approximation, numerical integration,
solution of equations, matrices and eigenvalues, systems
of equations, approximate solution of ordinary and partial
differential equations. Applications to physical problems.
Partially duplicates 3414. Mathematics majors
or minors cannot take both 4404 and 3414.
Pre: MATH 4564, (ESM 2074 or AOE 2074).
(3H,3C)
4414: COMPUTER-AIDED SPACE MISSION PLANNING
Design and analysis of space missions. Basic orbital
mechanics and access between spacecraft and ground
station. Advanced orbit visualization. Prediction of
spacecraft position observation under constraints.
Communications and link budgets. Terrain modeling
and impact on performance. Constellation design and
coverage. Orbital perturbations. Dynamics of airplanes
and space launch vehicles. Interplanetary mission design.
Pre: 2074, (4134 or ECE 2164).
(1H,1C)
4434: INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS
Euler and Navier-Stokes equations governing the flow of
gases and liquids. Mathematical character of partial
differential equations. Discretization approaches with
a focus on the finite difference method. Explicit and
implicit solution techniques and their numerical stability.
Introduction to verification, validation, and uncertainty
quantification for computational fluid dynamics
predictions. Co: AOE 3044 or ME 3404 or ESM 3016.
Pre: MATH 2214.
(3H,3C)
4974: INDEPENDENT STUDY
Variable credit course.
4984: SPECIAL STUDY
Variable credit course.
4994: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Variable credit course.
4994H: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Variable credit course.