AE4451: Course Overview
Catalog Description
The theories and principles of jet and rocket propulsion.  Thermodynamic cycles. The mechanics and thermodynamics of combustion. Turbine engine and rocket
performance characteristics. Component and cycle analysis of jet engines and turbomachinery.

Course Objectives

    Mastery Level
  1. Common types of aircraft and spacecraft (aero)propulsion systems.
  2. Performance characteristics and operating ranges of aeropropulsion systems.
  3. Application of thermodynamic cycle analysis.
    4. Basic Use Level
  4. Thermodynamic treatment of chemically reacting systems; application to combustors and rocket nozzles.
  5. Preliminary (single-point) cycle design and performance analysis of aeropropulsion systems, for jet engines, and chemical and thermal rockets.
    6. Exposure Level
  6. Basic operation and design requirements of jet engine components, including: inlets, fans, compressors, combustors, turbines, afterburners, and nozzles.
  7. Performance and analysis of electric propulsion systems for spacecraft.
  8. Heat transfer analysis and cooling considerations for aeropropulsion systems.

Learning Outcomes
A student successfully completing this course will be able to:

  1. Make design choices between jet and rocket propulsion systems based on performance issues.
  2. Calculate energy release, e.g., adiabatic flame temperatures, and equilibrium composition of gases at known temperature and pressure.
  3. Analyze the thermodynamic performance of jet engine cycles and compute relevant performance parameters.
  4. Perform and report preliminary design calculations to size jet engines to meet specific performance goals.
  5. Analyze the thermodynamic performance of simple chemical and electrical rocket cycles and compute relevant performance parameters.
  6. Characterize the performance and operating/design constraints for inlets, compressors, combustors, turbines and nozzles.
Prerequisites
AE 2010 or (ME3322 and AE 2802). Specific areas/concepts include:
  1. thermodynamic concepts of properties and states
  2. conservation equations (mass, momentum, energy, and entropy - Second Law of Thermodynamics)
  3. control volume analysis
  4. one- and two-dimensional compressible flows, e.g., normal and oblique shock, and supersonic flow with area change (nozzles)
Text
    Recommended: Mechanics and Thermodynamics of Propulsion, 2nd Edition, Philip Hill and Carl Peterson, Addison-Wesley, 1992.

In addition, the following texts may be helpful and most are available in the library.