On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

 

1	Explain propulsion systems (turbojets, turbofans, ramjets, ducted rockets, scramjets, chemical and electrical space propulsion (review) and non-traditional space propulsion systems) and their application to aerospace vehicles;
2	Demonstrate skills to analytically and numerically solve problems related to aerospace propulsion systems both on paper and using numerical methods;
3	Demonstrate skills in working independently with minimal supervision;
4	Demonstrate skills in critical evaluation of scientific literature;
5	Demonstrate skills in working as a team member; and
6	Demonstrate skills in planning and presentation of scientific talks and reports.

 
The above course learning outcomes are aligned with the Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency Standard for the Professional Engineer.
The course is designed to develop the following Elements of Competency: 1.1   1.2   1.3   1.4   1.5   1.6   2.1   2.2   2.3   2.4   3.1   3.2   3.3   3.4   3.5   3.6   

1) Course notes

2) Textbook: Hill, P., and Peterson, C., Mechanics and Thermodynamics of Propulsion, Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., 1992,

3) Any online material will be available at MyUni.

4) Digital recordings of lectures (e.g., taping lectures, wireless network, pod-casts) may not be made available to students who are absent.

1) Sutton, G. P., and Biblarz, O., Rocket Propulsion Elements, 8th Ed, Wiley-interscience, 2010

2) Bathie, W. W., Fundamentals of Gas Turbines, 2nd Ed, John Wiley & Sons, 1992.

3) Goebel, D. M, and Katz, I., Fundamentals of Electric Propulsion, John Wiley & Sons, 2008.

4) Turns, S. R., An Introduction to Combustion, 2nd Ed, McGraw-Hill, 2000.

Copies of assignments and any paper material distributed during class will also be posted on My-Uni.

Lectures supported by problem-solving tutorials, group seminars, and a practical laboratory developing material covered in lectures.

Formal Contact: Lectures and tutorials: 41 hours, Seminars: 4 hours, Practical: 5 hours, Exam: 3 hours.

Suggested personal workload (will vary between students): Reading and revising course material: 30-50 hours, Completion of assignments and practical report: 30-50 hours, Exam preparation: 30-50 hours.

The numbers quoted here are approximations and will vary if some activities take longer or less time than anticipated:

I. Review of thermodynamics and Introduction of Propulsion – 10 lectures

1. Review
2. Mixtures of gases
3. Thermodynamic cycles
4. Combustion thermodynamics

II. Chemical Propulsion – 24 lectures

1. Air-Breathing Propulsion Systems

1. turbojet systems
2. turbofan systems
3. turboprops/propfans systems
4. ramjet systems
5. scramjet systems
6. PDE’s and other advanced concepts

2. Air-Breathing Propulsion System Components

1. subsonic inlets and diffusers
2. supersonic inlets and diffusers
3. axial and radial (centrifugal) compressors
4. combustors
5. axial turbines
6. nozzles
7. propellors and fans

3. Air-Breathing Propulsion System Integration

4. Rocket Propulsion Systems

1. thrust analysis
2. vertical trajectory analyses
3. staging performance
4. basic orbital dynamics

5. Liquid propellant rocket systems

1. propellants
2. preburners
3. turbopumps
4. injectors
5. thrust chambers
6. nozzles

6. Solid propellant rocket systems

1. propellants
2. configurations
3. characteristics

III. Electric Propulsion – 5 lectures

1. Physics of electromagnetic fields
2. Plasmas and magnetohydrodynamics
3. One-dimensional steady flow of a plasma
4. Magnetic Reynolds number
5. Practical electric propulsion devices

IV. Alternative space propulsion systems (student Seminars) – 5 lectures

V. Review of course material – 2 lectures

Students will be required to adhere to laboratory conduct safety guidelines for the practical component of this course.

Due to the current COVID-19 situation modified arrangements have been made to assessments to facilitate remote learning and teaching. Assessment details provided here reflect recent updates.

Assessment Task	Weighting (%)	Individual/ Group	Formative/ Summative	Due (week)*	Hurdle criteria	Learning outcomes
Assignment 1	5	Individual	Summative	Week 5		1. 2. 3.
Assignment 2	5	Individual	Summative	Week 7		1. 2. 3.
Assignment 3	5	Individual	Summative	Week 9		1. 2. 3.
Assignment 4	5	Individual	Summative	Week 11		1. 2. 3.
Quizzes	5	Individual	Summative	Weeks 3-11		1. 2. 3.
Group Assignment^	15	Group	Summative	Week 11-12		3. 4. 5. 6.
Lab	10	Individual	Summative	Weeks 7-11	Min 50%	1. 2. 3.
Exam	50	Individual	Summative			1. 2.
Total	100

* The specific due date for each assessment task will be available on MyUni.
^There will also be no changes to the group project. The current advice from the University is to maintain group work requirements, as groups can collaborate online. The deliverables will be unchanged, and will consist of a technical paper, a video presentation, presentation slides, and a computer program. As stated in the project description, there is no requirement for every group member to participate in the presentation, workload should be allocated and managed within the group. Remote students (i.e. those who are overseas) will still have the option to complete the project in a group or to complete a modified version of the project individually. 
 
This assessment breakdown is registered as an exemption to the University's Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy. The exemption is related to the Procedures clause(s): 1. b. 2.   
 
This course has a hurdle requirement. Meeting the specified hurdle criteria is a requirement for passing the course.

In order to pass this course, students must achieve a pass grade for the turbine engine performance laboratory.

• Final exam is a 3-hour long open book exam, to be conducted during the formal university examination period.

• There will be 4 assignments in total. Three of these are individual assignments (no collaboration) and the other is a group assignment/project. These will be distributed during class and also placed on MyUni. Due dates for these assignments may be subject to change; any changes will be announced in-class, written on the assignment, and posted on MyUni at the time the assignment is first distributed.

• The turbine engine performance laboratory is run as part of the formal Level IV laboratories.

Unless otherwise specified, submission of assignments and laboratory reports will be made through the hand-in boxes located next to the school office on Level 2 of Engineering South. Cover-sheets should be attached to all submissions (cover-sheets located next to the submission boxes).

Late submissions will be penalized at 50% per day late. Submissions are due at 1pm. Extensions for assignments will only be given in exceptional circumstances and a case for this with supporting documentation must be made either in writing after a lecture, submitted in hard copy to the front office (to be passed on to the lecturer), or emailed to the lecturer directly.

Assignments will be assessed and returned within 4 weeks from submission (usually significantly less). Assignments that are marked prior to the last class will be brought to class for students to collect. Any assignments not collected in-class will be left in the assignment collection boxes next to the elevator on level 2 of Engineering South. There will be no opportunities for re-submission of work of unacceptable standard. Due to the large class size, feedback on assignments will be limited to in-class discussion resulting from questions from students.