AE200-INTRODUCTION TO AERONAUTICS

FALL-2013

MAIN CONTENTS OF THE COURSE AE200

INTRODUCTION TO AERONAUTICS
Section

Subject/Contents

GENERAL INTRODUCTION:
General (Aviation Area of Science, Aviation Job Market, etc.), Aero, Aeronautics, Aerospace,
Types of Aircraft (According to: Type of Operation, Weight, Speed, Size, Engines, etc.),
Categories of Aircraft (According to Certificate of Airworthiness (C O A), according to
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), General Categories, etc.), Main Differences
Between Aircraft and Aeroplanes, Main Differences Between Aeroplanes and Helicopters
(Advantages, Disadvantages), Nationality and Registration Marks of Aircraft, Identification
Plates, National and International Aviation Organisations (ICAO, NACA, NASA, FAA, JAA,
EASA, LYCAA, IATA, etc.) A Brief History of Flight, etc.
DIMENSIONS AND UNITS:
General Introduction, Systems of Dimensions and Units, Primary and Secondary Dimensions,
Basic and Derived Units, System International dUnits (ISA), British Gravitational System (BG),
English Engineering System (EE), etc., Dimensional Analysis, Dimensionless Quantities,
Conventional Choices of Dimensions and Units, Dimensional Consistency, Prefixes on Units,
Applications/Exercises, etc.
THE ATMOSPHERE:
General Introduction, Composition of Atmosphere, Structure of Atmosphere (according to the
concentration of the gases: homosphere, heterosphere; according to temperature variation:
Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, Exosphere, Ionosphere, Magnetosphere,
etc., Characteristics of the Atmosphere, Properties of Atmosphere, Equation of State, Hydrostatic
Equation, International Standard Atmosphere (ISA), Standard Sea Level Parameters, Variation of
Gravity with Altitude, Troposphere Gradient Layer , Lower Stratosphere Layer Isothermal
Layer, Pressure, Temperature and Density Altitudes, Solved Examples, etc..
COMPONENTS OF AIRPLANES:
General Introduction, Aircraft Systems, Body of Airplanes Fuselage: Functions, Types,
Advantages and Disadvantages, etc. , Wings: Functions, Wing Types (Mono, Bi, Tri, Multi, etc,High wing, Low wing, Mid wing, etc.- Cantilevered wings, Semicantilevered Wings, etcDihedral, Unhedral, Level Wings-Gull Wings, Inverted Gull Wings, Wing Nomenclature/Wing
Geometry (Leading Edge, Trailing Edge, Root, Tips, Chords, Mean Aerodynamic Chord, Mean
Geometric Chord, Span, Aspect Ratio, Taper Ratio, Twist, Planform, Angle of Incidence, Angle
of attack, etc.), Wing Construction (Spars, Ribs, Stringers, etc.), Airfoil Basic Geometry, Airfoil
Nomenclature, Symmetrical Airfoils, Cambered Airfoils, NACA Numbering, System, etc.
Empennage: Horizontal Tail Units, Vertical Tail Units, Functions and Types, Landing Gear
Systems: Functions and Types, Propulsion Systems: Functions and Types. etc
FLIGHT CONTROLS:
Aircraft Axes, Flight Control Surfaces, Main Control Surface (Ailerons, Elevators, Rudders),
High Lift Devices/Trailing Edge Control Systems (Trailing Edge Flaps-Types and Functions),
Leading Edge Control Surfaces (Leading Edge Flaps, Slats, Slots, etc.- Functions), Secondary
Control Surfaces (Winglets, Spoilers, Fences, Vortex Generators, Tabs, etc.- Functions), etc.

STRUCTURES AND MATERIALS: General introduction, Loads, Structural Layout, Fuselage,

Truss type, Monocoque type, Semimonocoque type, Wings, Tail units, Zonal identification
system, Stations identification system, Materials, etc.
AERODYNAMICS:
Definitions, Flow Over Airfoils, Streamlines, Lift Forces, Drag Forces, Variation of Pressure
Distribution Over Airfoils, Lift Coefficient-Angle of Attack Curve, Reynolds Number, Mach
Numbers, Drag Force Sources, Flow Separation, Skin Friction, Drag-Angle of Attack Curves,
Ideal Airfoils, Centre of Pressure, Aerodynamic Centre, Centre of Gravity, Incompressible OneDimensional Flow, Continuity Equation, Bernoullis Equation, etc.
INTRODUCTON TO AERONAUTICS-AE200

DR FATEH ALEJ-Fall 2013

AE200-INTRODUCTION TO AERONAUTICS
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BOUNDARY LAYERS:
Basic Definitions, Boundary Layer Concept, Viscous and Non-Viscous Flow, Boundary Layer
Types, Laminar Flow, Turbulent Flow, Effect of Reynolds Number on Types of Boundary Layers,
Skin Friction Drag, Comparison Between Laminar and Turbulent Boundary Layers, Boundary
Layer Controls, etc.
FLOW MEASUREMENTS:
Pressure and Speed Measurements, Manometers, Barometers, Pitot Tubes, Static Ports, PitotStatic Tubes, Altimeters, Vertical Speed Indicators, Air Speed Indicators, Types of Aircraft
Speeds: Indicated Airspeed, Calibrated Airspeed, Equivalent Airspeed, True Airspeed, Ground
Speed, Wind Tunnels, Types of Wind Tunnels (High Speed Wind Tunnels, Low Speed Wind
Tunnels, Open Wind Tunnels, Closed Wind Tunnels, etc.), etc.
AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE
Background, The Four Forces, Main Factors affecting Aircraft Performance, Take Off
Performance, Climb Performance, Level Flight Performance, Gliding Performance, Descending
Performance, Manoeuvres and Turning Performance (Aircraft Motions, Level Turns, Vertical
Turns, Load Factors, V-n diagram, etc.), Available Thrust, Required Thrust, Profile Drag, Induced
Drag, Required Thrust Versus Velocity Curves, Minimum Thrust Required, etc.
STABILITY AND CONTROL:
Introduction, Static Stability, Aircraft Axes, Aircraft Motions, Aircraft Control, Aircraft Stability,
Types of Stability (Static Stability, Dynamic Stability), Longitudinal Stability, Lateral Stability,
Directional Stability, Longitudinal Static Stability Criteria, Trim Diagram, Conditions for Static
Stability, Stability of a Wing Alone, Stability of Wing and Horizontal Tail, Introduction to
Dynamic Stability, etc.
PROPULSION SYSTEMS:
Introduction, Types of Engines, Reciprocating/Piston Engines, Four Stroke Cycle, Basic
Equations, Work and Power, Effective Pressure, Disadvantage of Piston Engine, Gas Turbine
Engines: Jet Engines (Components and Thrust Equations, etc.), Turbofan Engines (Components
and Thrust Equations, etc.), Turboprop Engines (Components and Thrust Equations, etc.), etc.
VISITS TO TRIPOLI AIRPORT
REVISIONS AND EXERCISES

ASSESSMENT/WEIGHTING WITHIN UNIT: (1) Two Midterm EXAMS 2x(20%), (2) Quizzes,
Home-works, Activities and Attendances (10%) and (3) Final EXAM (50%).
TEXTBOOKS & REFERENCES:
1: INTRODUCTION TO FLIGHT MECHANICS (JOHN D. ANDERSON, JR.)
2: AERODYNAMICS FOR ENGINEERING STUDENTS (E. L. HOUGHTON AND N. B. CARRUTHERS)
3: AIRPLANE PERFORMANCE STABILITY AND CONTROL (PERKINS AND HAGE)
4: THEORY OF WING SECTIONS (FRA H. ABBOTT AND E. VON DOENHOFF)
5: HANDOUTS
6: BOARD NOTES

INTRODUCTON TO AERONAUTICS-AE200

DR FATEH ALEJ-Fall 2013