Aerospace Computational Science

Computational methods are pervasive in analysis, design and optimization of aerospace systems. This course introduces the fundamental concepts underlying aerospace computational science. Starting from the concepts of meshes, elements and point clouds, interpolation, quadrature and time integration, the techniques of finite difference, finite volume and finite element discretization of general PDE problems, and analysis of the accuracy, consistency and stability of discretized problems including treatment of boundary conditions are developed. In depth applications to computations of ideal subsonic, transonic and supersonic flows, and viscous internal and external flow with a turbulence model are introduced. Through the use of commercial and research software (ANSYS Fluent, SU2 and AERO Suite) the student is exposed to the use of computational tools for solving practical aerospace engineering problems. The course culminates with the treatment of multidisciplinary aerospace problems involving coupling across more than one discipline, such as aero-thermal analysis (for hypersonic vehicle performance analysis or gas turbine blade cooling), fluid-structure interaction problems (such as flutter or flapping wing aeroelastic performance), and aeroacoustics (such as jet noise for next generation commercial supersonic transport or noise radiation from multi-rotor urban air mobility platform). Students are expected to pursue significant computational projects in two-person teams. Prerequisites: CME102, CME104 (multivariable calculus, linear algebra, ODEs and some PDEs), ENGR 14, ME 30, ME70, and Recommended courses: AA102, AA103.