Aerospace Engineering

cAerospace engineering focuses on the understanding, design, and development of aircraft and spacecraft structures and systems. Aerospace engineering began as the study of flight, but has expanded to include space flight and propulsion in addition to aircraft design and aerodynamics of a variety of structures. Aerospace engineering can be considered a subset of mechanical engineering, but has expanded and grown it its own directions allowing it to be considered a major branch of the engineering profession.

Aerospace engineering covers everything from the design of small aircraft to large spacecraft, and many structures in between.

Aerospace Engineering Education

In many colleges and universities, aerospace engineering is a division within the mechanical engineering department.

Students enrolled in an aerospace engineering degree program will begin with a solid base in calculus and physics, move into advanced mechanical topics such as thermodynamics, heat transfer, aerodynamics and fluid mechanics, and depending on the desired specialty within aerospace engineering, move on to courses in propulsion, orbital mechanics, dynamics and control, and system design.

Branches of Aerospace Engineering

Branches of Aerospace Engineering

Aerospace engineering can be generally separated into two branches: aeronautics – the study of atmospheric-based structures and systems, and astronautics – the study of spacecraft structures and systems. These two branches do have many areas of overlap, and there are many subsets that include one or both of these branches, including:

• Aerospace Design and Structures - General design of aircraft and spacecraft structures
• Aerospace Theory - Studies of aerodynamics, thermodynamics, and other physical properties involved in aerospace structures
• Aircraft Systems - Interior systems for aircraft including control systems, wiring, and navigation systems
• Information Systems for Aerospace Systems - Computer and network systems for the control of and communication with aircraft and spacecraft.
• Propulsion System Design - The design of air-breathing engines for atmospheric craft or rocket systems for spacecraft.
• Spacecraft System Design - Design and development of satellites,
• Missile System Design - Design of short, medium, or long range missiles, including air-to-air missiles, ground-to-air missiles, up to inter-continental ballistic missiles

Aerospace Engineering Professional Societies

The primary professional society for aerospace engineers is the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). According to the AIAA website, “With more than 31,000 members, AIAA is the world’s largest professional society devoted to the progress of engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense.”

Specialty societies exist for engineers who focus on certain areas within the profession, such as the Society of Flight Test Engineers, Satellite Industry Association (SIA), Sigma Gamma Tau, the honor society for aerospace engineering, and the Aerospace and Electronics Systems Society of the IEEE.

Sources

Worcester Polytechnic Institute Aeronautical Engineering division website

AIAA website

Career Cornerstone website

Aerospace Engineering Education

Aerospace Engineering Education
In many colleges and universities, aerospace engineering is a division within the mechanical engineering department.
Students enrolled in an aerospace engineering degree program will begin with a solid base in calculus and physics, move into advanced mechanical topics such as thermodynamics, heat transfer, aerodynamics and fluid mechanics, and depending on the desired specialty within aerospace engineering, move on to courses in propulsion, orbital mechanics, dynamics and control, and system design.

Mechanical Engineering :

Mechanical Engineering

What is mechanical engineering? Learn about the branches of the field, educational paths and professional societies. Mechanical engineering is one branch in the field of engineering. Mechanical engineering generally focuses on the creation and evaluation of physical things, but covers a broad range of technical areas.

Mechanical Engineering Education

Because mechanical engineering focuses on the study of physical systems, the core courses in a mechanical engineering curriculum reflect this. Most mechanical engineers start their learning with basic physics and calculus courses. Later courses can include static and dynamic systems, strength of materials, fluids, thermodynamics and heat transfer. A mechanical engineering curriculum is usually rounded out with advanced classes that match the student's desired specialty.

Branches of Mechanical Engineering

• Design - Design Engineering is a broad topic that refers to the mechanical or physical design of an object or system. The primary tool for the design engineer, after paper and pencil, is computer-aided design (CAD) software.
• Manufacturing/automation/electro-mechanical - This branch of engineering is concerned with systems that combine mechanical devices with electrical controls. This can include all forms of robotics, manufacturing equipment and mechanical systems that rely on sensors for feedback.
• Aeronautical- Aeronautical engineering focuses on projects in the aerospace field, such as aerodynamics and propulsion.
• Analysis - Analytical activities focus on using numeric and computer methods to model and simulate systems. One of the main areas of analysis is finite element analysis (FEA), where a model of a system is divided into small bits, and the behavior of each bit is simulated to determine how the entire system behaves.
• Structural - This branch focuses on the design and analysis of structural systems, such as bridges, buildings and large mechanisms. Structural engineering focuses on strength and performance of materials, primarily steel, but also including concrete, composite or other metallic structures. This branch can also include studies of fatigue and failure.
• Thermodynamics - Thermodynamics is the study of how heat affects objects and systems. Thermodynamics are important in systems that generate a lot of heat, such as power plants, or systems that encounter large thermal gradients, such as spacecraft.
• Fluid dynamics - Fluid dynamics is the study of how fluids behave. Fluids are not necessarily liquids, but can be made up of gases, such as air, or solids, such as sand.
• Testing and evaluation - Engineers in this branch of mechanical engineering have a solid understanding of the mechanical behavior of things, but also have a background in instrumentation, data acquisition, and design of experiments.

Professional Societies

The primary professional society for mechanical engineers is the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, or ASME. There are many other societies that focus on different niches within the profession of mechanical engineering. These include the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME). Many of the societies generate codes and standards relevant to their specific interests. The Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code created by ASME is one of the oldest engineering standards generated in the United States, and is still maintained to this day.

To learn about the different types of engineers and what they do, read Engineering 101: The Basics

Branches of Civil Engineering

Some of the branches of civil engineering include:

• Transportation – This branch of civil engineering is concerned with developing transportation systems, including highways, airports and runways, and rail systems.
• Environmental – Environmental engineering involves wastewater treatment, air pollution management, and the handling and processing of hazardous wastes.
• Geotechnical – Geotechnical engineering includes the design and construction of rock and soil based structures, including foundations and retaining walls.
• Structural – Structural engineering includes the design and construction of steel structures, including buildings, bridges, tunnels, and offshore structures such as oil rigs.
• Water Resources – This branch includes construction of dams, canals, and water pipeline systems, as well as conservation and resource management.

Civil Engineering Professional Societies

The primary American professional society is the American Society for Civil Engineers (ASCE). ASCE is the oldest professional engineering society in the United States, having been founded in 1852. ASCE is the leader in the development of standards related to civil engineering topics. One of the most well known ASCE activities is its annual National Concrete Canoe Competition, where college students design, build, and race canoes made from concrete. Many other societies exist that focus on facets within the civil engineering profession. Some of these societies include the Institute of Transportation Engineers and the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers.

Civil engineers have been vital to the advancement of the human race, and continue to benefit humanity through the development of structures and systems that are used daily by millions of people.

To learn about the different types of engineers and what they do, read Engineering 101: The Basics.

Sources

Worcester Polytechnic Institute – Civil and Environmental Engineering Department website

ASCE website

Army Corps of Engineers website